Dear Colleagues,
Wishing all of you good health and increased calm in these changing times. My own sense of unease is shifting as we see a flattening of the curve but the uncertainties remain - what next and for how long before we are back to business as “usual”. It is a disquieting feeling to not be able to plan ahead, both professionally and personally. Know that I am with you in this!
A reminder for your patients – don’t avoid care!
Patients avoiding care – Please share our new infographic with your patients and communities! Anecdotally, people are avoiding care for acute illnesses and many are not certain that we are still there for them. We want the public to know that family doctors’ offices and emergency departments are taking appropriate precautions to help keep people safe.
In sharing the above, we’re very mindful that having sufficient PPE and other supplies to care for patients face-to-face in a safe manner is essential. Masks and eye protection with 20-second hand hygiene before and after patient interactions, with patients wearing their own masks are essential for non-COVID suspects. The above plus gowns are necessary for COVID suspects. Clean touchable surfaces after every patient interaction.
The OCFP will continue to remind the government at every opportunity about the critical need for your access to PPE. If you’re facing urgent PPE shortages, go to the OMA COVID website and review the inventory tool and resources under the PPE heading.
Billing issues
K and H codes finally being processed as of May 5 – Our letters to OHIP and the Minister of Health outlined the harmful impacts this delay has had on our members and their patients, particularly those who are fee for service. Although billing matters are outside of our mandate, your ability to thrive in your practice and care for your patients IS within our remit, and we felt the need to address this issue based on your feedback.
Uninsured patients are COVERED with the new K codes in all clinics and in hospitals. Read more here.
A national call for blended remuneration models – The disparities within our profession have unfortunately come to the fore as a result of COVID-19. Our national college recently called on policymakers to shift to blended physician remuneration models that better support continuity of care and team-based care provided in a Patient's Medical Home. We’ve shared this information notice from CFPC with the SGFP. Our hope is that, as our OMA/SGFP colleagues embark on negotiations with the Ministry, they’ll be looking at all options to bridge gaps in family medicine exposed through this pandemic and ultimately create more equity among our peers and the patients we serve.
Ministry of Health (MOH) guidance changes
New screening checklist – use this in your office screening. Also released by the MOH is a new symptoms list.
Clearance guidance for return to work – Approaches to clearing cases and recommendations for healthcare worker return to work (that can be used to guide advice for other types of workers).
Additional provincial testing guidance – This guidance includes info on transfer from hospitals to long-term care, testing newborns, testing cancer and hemodialysis patients, and considerations related to seasonal allergies.
Centre for Effective Practice COVID tool
Added to the CEP repository – The CEP’s academic detailers are now offering virtual educational visits to help family physicians manage care for their patients during COVID-19. Depending on physicians’ expressed needs, these virtual visits will cover evidence-based information on the management of patients with COVID-19 to primary care operations and maintaining practice in the COVID-19 context. Sign up today.
CEP’s continuously updated COVID-19 Toolkit provides a single source of guidance for family doctors. Recent updates include a new checklist for physicians who are providing care in long-term care for the first time, and ways to reduce discomfort associated with PPE use.
Mental health – now and as this evolves
Practical information from your peers – Join us on Friday, May 15, 8 – 9 a.m. ET for the next webinar in our Community of Practice, led by and for family physicians. This is the third in our series on "Changing the Way we Work". This session will focus on supporting patients with increased mental distress. The CoP is hosted by the OCFP and UofT Department of Family and Community Medicine, and moderated by Dr. Tara Kiran. Hear from family physicians Dr. Leah Skory (Barrie Community Health Centre, Barrie), Dr. Claudette Chase (Primary Care Health Unit, Sioux Lookout), and Dr. Javed Alloo (Nymark Medical Centre, CAMH, Toronto). Register here.
New psychological supports available to frontline healthcare providers – The Ontario Psychological Association has counselling available, at no cost, for frontline workers in any industry who have developed COVID-related mental health issues. This may be particularly helpful for your patients who do not have extended health benefits or alternative health coverage. The OCFP is proud to be a partner in this program. You can read more and access the referral form here.
Free internet-based program to help Ontarians cope with COVID-19 – The government is expanding virtual mental health services to help Ontarians experiencing anxiety and depression, including frontline healthcare workers, during the pandemic. These internet-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT) programs were developed in partnership with MindBeacon and Morneau Shepell and will be provided at no out-of-pocket cost to people across the province. Learn more here.
Innovation that inspires
Finally, a big shout out to the ingenuity of Ontario’s medical students, who are innovating in the face of COVID-19.
As I discovered in a recent edition of Healthy Debate, several McMaster University medical students have joined forces to create covidreview.ca – a website with a searchable database of COVID-related scientific studies.
And this COVID-19 Resource Guide, collated by the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada (SRPC) Student Committee, includes clinical assessment and decision-making tools, and information on ventilators, PPE, protected code blue, protected intubation, and more.
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In this challenging, fluid environment, I am constantly reminded of the value of our profession in creating meaningful solutions for so many. I continue to be inspired by the stories of family physicians leading the way for their peers, patients and communities.
Our Board of directors is recruiting! We value your voice, to bring the wisdom of your practice and community to the direction and priorities of the Ontario College of Family Physicians. Please consider applying!
I really value this opportunity to connect with you, and to hear from you. Strength to you all as we manage this marathon, and thank you for being there for your patients and your communities.
Jennifer