March 16, 2020 1:30 pm
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) & Supplies
 
Primary Care providers who are experiencing critical PPE & supply issues (i.e., potential closing of clinics due to PPE), please email Janet Dang, Transformation Lead, Primary Care at janet.dang@thamesvalleyfht.ca identifying what items you require. We hope to be able to redeploy any donated or extra PPE from our communities.

As of Friday, N95 masks are no longer required as per Public Health Ontario PPE Guidance and the Ontario Medical Association.

PPE is the last tier of protection – environmental control, diversion, physical barriers should be employed first.  Doing a nasopharyngeal swab is NOT an aerosolizing procedure so does not require an N95 mask. Droplet and Contact precautions include all of the following: 

  • Surgical/procedure mask (not N95)
  • Isolation gown 
  • Gloves
  • Eye protection (goggles or face shield) 

Need help managing your clinic during COVID-19?

If you have questions, need some advice and/or require support managing your clinic (i.e., office planning or virtual care) during this time, please email Dr. Mario Elia at melia@llfho.com .

Who should be tested for COVID-19? (from Middlesex-London Health Unit )

The guidance for testing no longer considers country of travel; instead it focuses on prioritization of those at highest risk. Testing is recommended for the following:

  • Symptomatic contacts of confirmed cases, until community transmission is confirmed
  • Individuals admitted to hospital with Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI)
  • Health care workers with ARI
  • Individuals with ARI who reside in long-term care homes and retirement homes
  • Individuals with ARI who reside in other institutions and as directed by local public health
  • Health care workers as part of a health care institutional outbreak and as directed by local public health
  • First Nation Community members living on reserve with ARI

Signing up for OTN

All the info you need to sign up is on the OTN page for primary care providers . Scroll to the bottom for the link to register.

Health Provider Webinars from Middlesex-London Health Unit

The Middlesex-London Health Unit will have health provider webinars twice weekly. These will be held on Tuesdays and Fridays at 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. More information to follow.

If you are not on the Health Unit's Healthcare Provider distribution list, please contact COVID@mlhu.on.ca .

Your Own Health

The OMA is recommending that physicians avoid in person meetings. Anyone in extreme distress should contact the OMA’s  Physician Health Program   at 1-800-851-6606 between 8:45 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Need help for yourself while you keep working?

1st and 2nd Year Schulich Med Students are offering help to healthcare and hospital workers who may need logistical help (i.e., groceries, childcare, help for elderly family members) so you can keep working during school closures.

Use this form if you need assistance and they will try to match you with a student that can meet your needs.

Contact: Janet Dang
London Middlesex Primary Care Transformation Lead