Colleagues,
I am honoured to be starting my two-year term as the 63rd president of the OCFP. I want to thank Dr. Jennifer Young for her outstanding leadership these past two years, and especially during these last seven months.
As your new president, I commit to working hard to support the diversity of our membership – to listen to your stories, your struggles and your ideas, to amplify your voices and support the work that you do. See my three-minute welcome message here.
In my first two weeks I have had the privilege to respond directly to member calls and emails, participate in the informative Section on General and Family Practice’s Primary Care Summit, and advocate – together with colleagues from Ontario and nationwide – to the provincial and federal Ministers of Health about the needs of family physicians.
I feel we are doing our job at the OCFP when we make yours easier, and this includes advocating on your behalf, and ensuring you have the information and tools you need to excel and thrive in your practice.
I look forward to the opportunity ahead to continue this work.
Key Updates on COVID-19 and Flu
Medical notes for clearance
We are hearing that some school boards and workplaces are still requesting medical notes for clearance – please continue to share those examples with us. We have already flagged instances with the MOH and will continue to do so.
MOH return to school guidance recommends that medical notes or proof of negative tests should be avoided. Your patients can use this clearance attestation form, developed by the OMA, to indicate their or their children’s readiness for return to work, school, child care, and after-school/recreational programs.
Updated school screening and testing guidance: Last week, the updated MOH guidelines were released.
- NEW: the list of COVID symptoms for children, and when assessment or testing is indicated. For example, a child with an isolated symptom of runny nose is now directed to self-isolate for 24 hours and can return to school if symptoms are improving – a negative COVID test is not required.
- The new MOH guidance now advises parents to contact their health care provider as a first step if their child is symptomatic.
- We know the changes in screening guidance are challenging for parents, and in turn, means your office staff are triaging more of these calls. This interactive algorithm can help answer parents’ questions and give direction on return to school.
- We anticipate there may be changes to the screening and testing guidance shaped, in part, by OCFP feedback.
- We have also heard that vaccinations normally offered in school to grade 7 students may not be offered in some parts of Ontario. Please let us know if you are dealing with this issue so that we can bring your concerns forward at provincial tables.
Updated clearance guidance: The MOH has also updated its clearance guidance. The highlights:
- For individuals with mild to moderate illness and no severe immune compromise, the isolation period now is 10 days from symptom onset (instead of 14 days), provided the individual is afebrile and symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours.
- For individuals with severe illness (requiring ICU level of care) or severe immune compromise, the isolation period now is 20 days from symptom onset (instead of 14 days), provided the individual is afebrile and symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours.
- Contacts who have had a high-risk exposure to a case are still required to self-isolate for 14 days from their last exposure to take into consideration an incubation period of 4-5 days.
Point-of-care COVID testing
- Point-of-care rapid testing should be available “in the months ahead”, according to a recent federal government announcement.
- Saliva testing is now available at a few Toronto hospitals – while easier to administer/take, the literature on its accuracy versus the usual nasopharyngeal swab is still evolving.
- We continue to call for, not only increased testing and rapid testing, but also priority/dedicated testing for all healthcare workers.
Work accommodations
Our guide has been updated to clarify that it is up to the family doctor to recommend restrictions and limitations, however it is the employer’s obligation to provide appropriate accommodations according to the Human Rights Code.
Thank you to the CFPC’s Occupational Health Member Interest Group who provided helpful feedback.
Flu vaccines
Many of you have flagged the challenges in giving flu vaccines in your offices while observing IPAC and PPE requirements. This year’s vaccinations will likely occur through a combination of our offices, pharmacies, community flu clinics, and some family practices forming cooperative clinics, etc. Please let us know how you and your colleagues are addressing flu this year as we can share innovative ideas on our next COVID-19 Community of Practice.
JOIN US for a (certified) practical discussion on Friday, October 16, 8 – 9 a.m., with UofT's DFCM. Guest speakers are Drs. Jeff Kwong, David Kaplan, and Allan Grill, along with moderator Dr. Tara Kiran.
Nearly 300 of your colleagues, across all practice models, have already registered! This is a great opportunity to hear the latest on rising case counts, respiratory assessment centres, flu shots and more.
More flu resources:
- See the NACI list of those most at risk here.
- Help us help you with flu – complete this OMA survey (5 – 7 minutes) to identify barriers you are facing, supports needed, and the innovative activity underway in your region. The survey closes October 15.
*****************
Thank you for your continued hard work to care for your patients. We know that your offices are open, and that you are working hard to meet the increasing demand.
On our end, the OCFP will continue to advocate for your needs.
As always, we value your feedback as it helps us to ensure we are providing you the information you need.
Liz