COVID-19 Update from the Department of Medicine
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As of June 5, 2020 in Nova Scotia
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1,058
positive tests
(907 in Central Zone)
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1
currently in hospital (non-ICU)
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2
currently in hospital (ICU)
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This week was the Faculty of Medicine’s Annual Faculty Meeting and Awards Presentation. Several of our members were celebrated for their excellence in clinical care and academic work. I congratulate each of them. The details of each award are listed below. It is wonderful to see the great talent and accomplishments of our AFP and community members recognized. We will have our own internal department awards celebration on June 30
th during the Grand Rounds Zoom slot and I encourage you all to join us. Dr. Gordon Gubitz has graciously agreed to host this event so I know it will be entertaining for everyone.
On a more solemn note we witnessed a great tragedy in the US last week with the violent and senseless death of George Floyd. There are no words that can express my sadness for this and the continued racism that we see in our world today. I am grateful we work in a community like Dalhousie and the NSHA where actions and policies promote inclusivity and fight inequality. My ask to you this week is to make a conscious effort every day to do something to make our world more inclusive and more peaceful. It is our diversity and the uniqueness of each of us, when brought together, that makes us strong and allows us to accomplish all the great things we do.
I hope everyone has a great week.
Keep well,
Christine
Christine Short, MD, FRCP(C), FACP
Associate Professor & Head/Chief, Department of Medicine
Dalhousie University/Central Zone, Nova Scotia Health Authority
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"My ask to you this week is to make a conscious effort every day to do something to make our world more inclusive and more peaceful."
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Faculty of Medicine Award Winners
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Congratulations to DoM physicians on winning the following
Faculty of Medicine awards.
Dr. Karthik Tennankore, Division of Nephrology
Faculty of Medicine Award for Excellence in Patient-Oriented Research
Dr. Ashley Miller, Division of General Internal Medicine
Faculty of Medicine Early Career Award of Excellence in Clinical Practice
Dr. Mark Sadler, Division of Neurology
Faculty of Medicine Award of Excellence in Clinical Practice
Dr. Brian Moses, Division of General Internal Medicine (Yarmouth, NS)
Faculty of Medicine Community Teacher of the Year Award
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Out of province travel for healthcare workers
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Q: Do employees who choose to travel outside of NS need to self-isolate when they return and if so, is that time paid by NSHA as special leave?
A: Health Care Workers (HCW) who choose to travel outside of NS for personal/vacation purposes must self-isolate upon their return to NS and those choosing to travel, without exemption from self-isolation, will
no longer be eligible for paid special leave.
Exemptions:
Essential service employees, including Healthcare Workers, required to cross the land border on a regular and consistent basis to report to work are exempt from self-isolation as per ORDER BY THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH UNDER SECTION 32 of the HEALTH PROTECTION ACT 2004, c. 4, s. 1.
Excerpts from memo (June 5, 2020):
Joanne Stone
Senior Director, NSHA People Services
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The only office with authority to exempt workers from the 14-day isolation requirement is the
Chief Medical Officer of Health. Please speak with your manager if you have further questions.
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Hours are changing for NSHA's toll-free line for health care workers effective June 1.
Reason: Staff temporarily assigned to OSH&W to support the toll-free line are returning to their respective programs and services.
Healthcare worker COVID-19 testing:
Contact:
NSHA Occupational Health Safety & Wellness (OSH&W):
1-833-750-0632
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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DO NOT REPORT TO WORK IF you have any of the following:
- fever of 37.8°C or higher
- chills
- muscle aches
- new or worsening: cough
- new or worsening: shortness of breath
- sore throat
- runny nose
- nasal congestion
- sneezing
- hoarse voice
- diarrhea
- unusual fatigue
- unexplained headache
- loss of sense of smell or taste
- red, purple or blueish lesions, on the feet, toes or fingers without clear cause
CALL 1-833-750-0632
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Negative COVID-19 test results - email notification - NEW
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Nova Scotians tested for COVID-19 will now be given the option to receive their results by email.
Here’s how it will work:
- Individuals will be asked to provide their email address during their appointment.
If results are
NEGATIVE:
- Individual will receive a link via email
- Individual will then login with NS Health Card number to view their result and follow-up information will be provided.
- If no email provided, individual will be contacted by phone.
If results are
POSITIVE:
- All individual will be contacted by phone.
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Email option is available to those who have appointments at primary assessment centres.
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More information:
NSHA Public Health has also launched a toll-free number (1-844-996-0694) to support Nova Scotians with questions about their test results.
Read more.
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NSHA Coronavirus Updates - new schedule
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Starting the week of June 8, NSHA Coronavirus Updates will be published on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
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COVID VICTORY STUDY
"Nova Scotia's largest treatment study and our only COVID-19 study to combine treatment and discovery science."
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CO-VIC Research Team:
- Dr. Lisa Barrett, Principle Investigator
- Dr. Melissa Andrew
- Dr. Volodko Bakowsky
- Dr. Paul Bonnar
- Sarah Burgess, PharmD
- Dr. Ian Davis
- Dr. Melanie Di Quinzio
- Dr. Ahmed Ghaly
- Barbara Goodall, MSc
- Dr. Robert Green
- Dr. David Haldane
- Dr. Todd Hatchette
- Dr. Lynn Johnston
- David Kelvin, PhD
- Dr. Chris Lata
- Jason LeBlanc, PhD
- Dr. Osama Loubani
- Dr. Emily MacAdam, PGY2 IM Resident
- Dr. Shelly McNeil
- Dr. Brian Moses
- Sharon Oldford, PhD
- Dr. Tony O’Leary
- Dr. Glenn Patriquin
- Tasha Ramsey, PharmD
- Dr. Mark Robbins, PGY5 Resident
- Dr. John Sapp
- Dr. Walter Schlech
- Dr. Kris Srivatsa
- Dr. Karthik Tennankore
- George A. Wells, PhD
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NSHA news release | Monday, June 1, 2020
CO-VIC, the COVID-19 treatment and immunity study, will evaluate effectiveness of treatments for hospitalized patients suffering moderate to severe COVID-19 symptoms, while helping researchers discover more about immunity to the virus.
CO-VIC is led by Dr. Lisa Barrett, Clinician Scientist, Infectious Diseases, Nova Scotia Health Authority and Dalhousie University.
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New reference ranges - ESR
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Changes to Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) Reference Range in Central Zone Laboratories
Effective June 8, 2020, the reference range for ESR will change to reflect the newly implemented testing platform.
If you have further questions, please contact, Dr. Allam Shawwa at 902-473-6663.
From:
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
June 1, 2020
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New ESR reference ranges (effective June 8, 2020):
Female
0 – 26 mm/hr
Male
0 – 20 mm/hr
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Government is adding 23 new long-term care beds in Bedford to help meet the need caused by the pandemic. The beds are necessary because some long-term care facilities have slowed or stopped admissions due to COVID-19.
Read complete news release:
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DHW LTC waitlist
This is the number of clients waiting for placement from hospital to DHW licensed long term care facility.
Source: NSHA Media of the Day - June 4, 2020
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194
patients on waitlist for LTC facility
May 29, 2019
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341
patients on waitlist for LTC facility
May 28, 2020
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Resources for Teaching in a Virtual Environment
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(1 hour webinar - Adobe Connect)
Dr. R. Boulay, Dr. K. Horrey, Dr. J. Holland
Recorded May 26, 2020
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Graduate Student (virtual) Research Days
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Graduate Student Research Day has been an annual event since 2005, beginning in the Faculty of Medicine. Now, this event invites participation from graduate students from across the University, who are involved in health research. This year, the event will be held virtually over two days.
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Monday, June 8
9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Microsoft Teams
(see agenda for meeting links)
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Tuesday, June 9
9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Microsoft Teams
(see agenda for meeting links)
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Agenda:
From:
Professional & Research Education Program
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Weekly update and grand rounds
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COVID-19 Weekly Update for DoM
8 - 8:15 a.m.
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June 2 highlights:
- Palliative Care back to usual processes; contact numbers remain the same
- DoM administrative staff back onsite this week; developing schedules where needed
- NSHA healthcare workers can seek approval for an isolation exemption for essential travel only when travel across borders is required for work
- Please take time to care for yourself
- Acknowledged the death of George Floyd
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DoM Grand Rounds
8:15 - 9 a.m.
"Controversies in
Rheum
Rona
tology"
Dr. Volodko Bakowsky
Division of Rheumatology
Complete your evaluation:
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NSHA / Dr. Lynn Johnston
Uploaded: March 13, 2020
Video: 10 min
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NSHA / Dr. Glenn Patriquin
Uploaded: April 3, 2020
Video: 3 min
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COVID IMCU, MTU, SI-ED Schedule
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My Personal Directive
(Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia)
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Once completed online, it can be downloaded or emailed. Once signed and witnessed, it is valid.
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Spectrum MD
(Antimicrobial Stewardship)
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A list of some neighbourly businesses offering convenient, discounted or free services.
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NSHA healthcare workers experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, contact: 1-833-750-0632
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Nova Scotia Health Authority
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Government of Nova Scotia
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World Health Organization
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When you take care of yourself, you take care of others.
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