Dear Colleagues,

I’m happy to see that we are starting to round the corner on winter in Ontario. For me there is always hope and optimism as we head into spring.  I know many of you may be getting away for a well-deserved break this week with your families. 

With the province’s recently-announced approach for living with and managing COVID public health measures are now being lifted. We all have decisions to make regarding that transition in primary care – and what works best for our individual practices. To help you manage through the change, the OCFP has compiled this summary and the implications for primary care.

OCFP advocacy and the upcoming election – take this 3-minute survey

On the topic of positive change, the OCFP will soon launch a public advocacy campaign in the lead up to the June 2 provincial election – and we want to hear from you! Please take our 3-minute survey to let us know what you think about our identified priorities to support your everyday work and our profession overall; and if you wish to advocate along with us.

We are advancing our advocacy efforts in partnership with the SGFP and in support of the OMA’s Prescription for Ontario: Doctors’ 5-Point Plan for Better Health Care.

Start survey

PPE | TESTING | VACCINATION

• In our next COVID-19 Community of Practice with UofT DFCM, March 25 at 7:55 a.m., we will look at the implications to our work of the shifts in COVID regulations and patient expectations. Join us, along with Dr. Susy Hota, Infectious Disease Specialist at University Health Network, and Dr. Mira Backo-Shannon, Family Physician and Vice-President, Clinical Programs and Innovation, Ontario Health (Central Region).
• As outlined in this memo, MOH is encouraging ongoing use of 1870+ N95 respirators by healthcare providers, when indicated. Continue to plan ahead for the needs of you and your staff and order through the pandemic stockpile. 
• More groups are now eligible for PCR testing under updated guidance on testing and case management, including symptomatic patients who need to be diagnosed for treatment, and home and community care workers.
• As noted in the OCFP’s summary of changes to public health measures, mandatory vaccination and testing policies are no longer required as of March 14 but individual organizations may retain their vaccination or testing policy. Continue to submit medical exemptions from vaccination to your public health unit, as it may be required by your patient’s employer. Masking will continue in healthcare settings (including primary care) until April 27, and likely longer; we understand further guidance from MOH/PHO will be forthcoming in early April.

TREATMENT | COVID-19 CLINICAL ASSESSMENT CENTRES

• COVID Clinical Assessment Centres are expected to continue until the fall. With increasing access to medications, we understand work is underway to make it easier for family doctors to prescribe COVID treatments. Note that rapid tests can be used to guide treatment for symptomatic patients; PCR confirmation needed for a negative result. 

• For now, here is the expanded list (March 14, 2022) of CACs prescribing Paxlovid and a downloadable referral form for sites administering monoclonal antibodies.

OTHER UPDATES AND RESOURCES

• Check out this Choosing Wisely talk from March 9 on Understanding the Impact of Preventive Screening Backlogs with Dr. David Kaplan from Ontario and Dr. Guylène Thériault from Quebec, for insights on this challenge and practical ways to move forward.
• COVID-19 vaccine confidence before, during and after pregnancy: Strategies for health care providers – webinar from PHAC and the Canadian Vaccination Evidence Resource and Exchange, March 17, 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET: Register
• The CanCOVID Speaker Series recently featured the Ontario Science Advisory Table’s Dr. Andrew Morris and pharmacist Jolanta Piszczek, chair of the BC COVID Therapeutics Committee, on the evidence for Managing Mild to Moderate COVID-19. Access the recording
• Don’t miss the OCFP’s next Practising Well CoP session, with UofT DFCM, on March 23 at 8 a.m. – When your head hurts too much – with guests Drs. Julia Alleyne, Virginia McEwen, and Shailla Vaidya, and moderator Dr. Javed Alloo: Register
• A webinar to walk through the CPSO’s modernized Quality Improvement Program and answer your questions – March 28, 12 p.m. ET: Register
• Proposed Physician Services Agreement (PPSA): Voting on the PPSA will open on March 22 at 10 a.m. and close March 27, at 3 p.m. Learn more from the OMA online resources (gated) and in the town hall focused on primary care, March 17, 7-9 p.m. ET: Register

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It’s been a long hard journey to bring us to the cusp of Spring 2022, and you’ve all worked hard for your patients throughout. Wishing you all well, and please take time for rest and recovery and a healthy dose of self-compassion.

Liz