NSHA is committed to keeping physicians up to date with information from the provincial incident management team and all clinical information required to assist in our provincial response.
We have been requesting that all physicians postpone or cancel non-essential out of country travel to avoid the required 14-day self-isolation directive upon their return. We have physicians and front line health providers across the province impacted by this requirement for self-isolation after out of country travel. Each and every care provider is a valued asset as we organize staffing to meet the province’s needs.
Before this request was sent, physicians had already begun to come forward with cancelled or postponed travel and others volunteered to do the same when asked. I want to thank you on behalf of our entire province for your dedication to our public health response to COVID-19. I couldn’t be prouder to work alongside you in this effort. Thanks to all who have stepped up with willingness to support our provincial response and to join the planning committees and working groups of the Incident Management Team and in the zones. We have a true co-leadership model and physician representation on every committee.
Physician Referrals to Coronavirus Assessment Centres
Our incident management team has created Pre-Screening Guidelines for patients presenting at Ambulatory Clinics and Primary Health Care clinics. This provides a clear direction to physicians on referral to Coronavirus Assessment Centres using the Fax Form linked below. All of these forms are available on the physician specific information site
here
.
Update:
Clarification on Travel Advisory for Physicians Returning From Out of Country or Planning to Travel Out of Country
All NSHA staff and medical staff arriving from out of country travel after March 13, 12 noon, are required to self-isolate for 14 days.
All physicians planning travel or who are returning from travel are asked to report these details to their local ZMED office through the following contacts.
Government of Canada Advice to Canadians Traveling Abroad
Canadians currently outside the country should find out what commercial options are still available and consider returning to Canada earlier than planned if these options are becoming more limited. For more information, click
here
.
Nova Scotia Locum Physicians Returning to Practice
We are currently exploring screening guidelines for physicians returning to practice in Nova Scotia who have been working in provinces with reported cases or traveling through airports with known cases. There is currently no requirement for self-isolation but these guidelines are being regularly revised and, as such, we will continue to update as information is provided.
Out of Province Locums and Medical Students
All out of province locum physicians that are starting after March 13, 2020 will require COVID-19 Screening prior to entering NSHA workplaces, until otherwise notified.
We are working with Dalhousie to discuss planned medical learner arrivals for electives or other opportunities. We are asking that physicians who have international medical residents arriving to share this information with
physicianrecruit@nshealth.ca
.
Medical Affairs is screening all of these medical residents before they return to our facilities.
CMPA Accommodations
The CMPA has sent notice that during COVID-19, they will support physicians who are providing clinical support in areas they don’t typically work in, and in different provinces where needs are greater. The CMPA assures physicians that they are working to facilitate safe care during the crisis and that members need not have medical legal protection act as a barrier to the required pandemic response. ‘
The CMPA will continue to provide members with liability protection for medical-legal difficulties arising as a result of care provided in Canada in the context of the COVID-19 efforts.
- The Association would exercise its discretion to extend assistance to members who provide medical care outside their usual field of practice or who provide care in Canada, but outside their designated province of work.
- During the pandemic, you are not required to inform the CMPA of a change in Type of Work (TOW) or Province of Work (POW) prior to commencing your efforts but the CMPA would appreciate hearing from you when it is feasible or if you have any questions.
- Physicians are encouraged to consult with the relevant medical regulators (Colleges) to ensure the appropriate licensing approvals are in place related to their province of work and scope of practice.
- Despite the challenging conditions of a pandemic, physicians will be expected to continue to act professionally on behalf of their patients.
- Members should document their rationale for decisions under crisis situations to assist in the event of medical-legal difficulties.
- CMPA Physician Advisors are available to provide support throughout the pandemic and can be reached at 1-800-267-6522 Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET or through the CMPA member portal.
Fit Testing for Physicians
Only physicians who are providing aerosol generating procedures (positive pressure ventilation (BiPAP and CPAP), endotracheal intubation, airway suction, high frequency oscillatory ventilation, tracheostomy, chest physiotherapy, nebulizer treatment, sputum induction, and bronchoscopy) should be participating in fit testing at this time. Staff members are working to reach all physicians in each zone to determine their fit testing status.
For information about fit testing in your area, contact your zone Occupational Health and Safety Lead:
Follow Up
Business Continuity for CZ Laboratory
In yesterday’s message (link to memo), Central Zone laboratory has asked to cease all routine bloodwork and other procedures. Further clarification on routine bloodwork was requested. The department is requesting physicians to cease orders for all non urgent bloodwork which includes regular monitoring of patients, annual check ups, HGB A1C for monitoring diabetes, any bloodwork that can be deferred, should. We will continue to work with lab for further clarification of this request and provide details about how this relates to laboratory services in each zone.
Other zones are working on their plans and we will update as information is received.
