Update #1 - Message from Dr. David Kaplan
Ontario Health (Toronto Region) Primary Care Providers Update #1
March 18, 2020
Attachments: Difference in self-isolation and self-monitoring and OCFP info-graphic
Dear Colleagues,
We are attempting to limit the amount of communication you get to your email inbox but have a number of important items to distribute.
As many of you are aware, Premier Doug Ford announced yesterday a state of emergency for the Province of Ontario. This includes shutting all non-essential services. The goals of social distancing and reducing to essential functions only, are to slow the rate of transmission of COVID-19 to our most vulnerable people.
Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health issued a statement detailing enhanced public health measures to help contain the spread of COVID-19.
Please complete this survey for practices experiencing a CRITICAL SHORTAGE of Personal Protective Equipment. We hope to support these practices to remain open during this public health crisis.
Please complete the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZJFMB29
The Ontario College of Family Physicians along with physicians from North York General Hospital (Drs. Rebecca Stoller, Adam Dwosh, Maria Maraca and David Eisen) have created an infographic supporting key messages for our patients and the general public. The two-pager is available here. Please share it on social media or distribute via email to your practice population. I have also included a helpful handout differentiating self-isolation vs self-monitoring from social distancing.
Please note the following changes to COVID-19 Testing in Toronto Region Assessment Centres. Currently, COVID-19 Toronto Region Hospitals will only be testing people in the Assessment Centres who are risk for transmitting COVID-19 to large groups of people:
· Those who work within at risk settings (e.g. hospitals, LTC Homes, Paramedics)
· Those who reside in vulnerable settings (e.g., homeless shelter, prison, retirement home)
· Those who have been sent by Toronto Public Health (i.e., active cluster outbreaks within Toronto Region)
Everyone else, even those with mild symptoms who have returned from travel, do not need testing, unless they get sick enough to go to an Emergency Department (shortness of breath).
North York General Hospital, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre and Humber River Hospital have created a patient self-assessment form that supports this algorithm.
You can direct patients to covid19toronto.ca
5. Thanks to Dr. Ruth Heisey (Family Physician-in-Chief, Women’s College Hospital) for providing some practical advice for all of us:
· Health care workers returning from travel must be vigilant and have a low threshold for testing in this situation - any significant symptoms require assessment and consideration for testing.
· Reduce the number of workers who actually come to work. Encourage your staff to have virtual off-site options.
· When at work, ensure adequate social distancing - no face to face meetings unless absolutely necessary and if so keep two metres of space between each worker.
· Non-essential staff awaiting redeployment should stay at home until decided where they might best contribute.
· All staff caring for a symptomatic patient must have adequate PPE (droplet precaution) https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/ncov/updated-ipac-measures-covid-19.pdf?la=en
· Lastly, remember we are all doing the best job we can under challenging conditions and a kind word or smile goes a long way...
Again, we thank you all for your incredible support and commitment in continuing to care for your patients during these challenging conditions.
Warm Regards,
David M. Kaplan MD, MSc, CCFP, FCFP
Chief, Clinical Quality
Ontario Health (Quality)
Associate Professor, Family & Community Medicine
North York General Hospital
University of Toronto