COVID-19 Physician Information Update
May 6, 2020
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Updated Clinical Documents
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Order Sets, Procedures, Clinical Pathways, Guidelines and Policies
Infection Prevention and Control
Cancer Care
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Income Stabilization Program -
Deadline Tomorrow
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Changes to COVID-19 Community Cluster Process to Start May 7 at 0800
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Currently Nova Scotia Public Health is identifying geographic areas where there is sustained and persistent transmission of COVID-19 within communities. These community clusters are noted within the NS Public Health Epidemiology report which is published daily. Nova Scotia Public Health is concerned that there is an increased risk of asymptomatic infection and risk of transmission from patients residing within these communities. As we have done throughout the pandemic, a precautionary approach is being taken to keep both healthcare workers and patients safe while they are within NSHA. Additional precautions are recommended when caring for patients from these clusters.
In collaboration with Public Health and the IWK, we have refined the methodology to identify Community Clusters by using the 6 characters of the postal codes rather than using only the first 3 characters of the included postal codes as this methodology captures not only the Community Cluster but potentially the surrounding area. Using 6 digit postal codes allows us to include only addresses that fall within the Community Cluster. The Community and Facility clusters are identified daily within the Nova Scotia Public Health Epidemiology report. We will then take the clusters, assign postal codes using the most recently available postal code data from a Nova Scotia postal code ‘look up’ program.
We have created a searchable excel file COVID Community Cluster Postal Code Search, that will be used by healthcare workers to search the postal code of the patient. The healthcare worker will enter the 6 digits of the patient’s postal code and the program will indicate “YES” if the postal code is part of a community cluster or “NO” if the postal code is not part of a community cluster. The healthcare worker will only see the searchable box. All postal codes will be hidden and locked, making it less accessible. The COVID Community Cluster Postal Code Search will be a link from the current landing page for Community and Facility Cluster information on the COVID HUB. The landing page is located on the intranet and requires a NSHA or IWK account to access. Clinical Medical Advisory Committee will continue update the list daily to ensure the most current data is available for healthcare teams.
Health Information Services staff will pull the lists of booked appointment (1 to 2 days in advanced of scheduled appointments) and use COVID-19 Community Cluster Postal Code Search to identify if the patient resides within a cluster, if so they will put a droplet/contact flag to the patient chart using the patient flag (PHS) or staff flag (Meditech) process.
In addition healthcare workers are completing the COVID Risk Assessment Form for all patients with their initial interaction (ambulatory/surgical) visit and admissions. As part of the COVID Risk Assessment, one of the questions is Does the patient reside in a community or facility cluster? The healthcare worker will then go to the HUB, use COVID Community Cluster Postal Code Search, using the patient’s postal code, search the postal code and it will indicate if the postal code is in a community cluster; as well the facilities with COVID will be listed.
Note to Family Practice:
This new process means that the previous tool will be no longer updated and the new Excel Postal Code Search Tool will be distributed to those who have requested it
using this form.
Office staff can use the tool to enter a patient's postal code and click enter, the program will indicate a "YES" if the postal code falls within an identified community cluster and a "NO" if it does not. Patients should be seen regardless of their cluster status.
There is no need to test patients before they are seen but if a patient lives within a cluster and is agreeable to be tested, they can be referred to a
PAC
using the
Fax Referral Form
after the visit.
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Preview: Protected Code Stroke
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Click images to download the full size PDF.
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Spiritual Care Resources for Extraordinary Times
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NSHA spiritual care has provided a resource for areas and facilities where traditional services may not be available with contact information for local NS spiritual resources.
If you have spiritual care staff in your hospital, they are a good source of information and in-person support for patients and families. If your area does not have spiritual care staff, but is reliant on community-based clergy, you may not have access to the usual human and material resources. Use of phone, ipad, and other technology is strongly encouraged where possible to connect families and/or faith leaders.
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COVID-19 Children's Resource Book
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Manuela Molina of
Mindheart created a short book to support and reassure children under the age of 7 about COVID-19.
This book is an invitation for families to discuss the full range of emotions arising from the current situation. It is important to point out that this resource does not seek to be a source of scientific information, but rather a tool based on fantasy.
Remember that emotions are processed through repetitive play and stories read multiple times. Share COVIBOOK and help ease children's anxiety.
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Local Bridgewater business Curry Express graciously provided tasty trays of samosas and pakoras to the staff at South Shore Regional Hospital.
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Physician Reassignment Opportunities
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In response to the unique demands of providing care during COVID-19, NSHA is organizing opportunities for physician redeployment or reassignment. These opportunities are shared to physicians by your local leadership (ZMED, Department/Division Heads, Chiefs, Network Leads, and Site Leads).
The intent in all reassignment is to match physicians to the areas and needs that best match their skills, interests, and abilities. Physicians will be matched as needs arise across the province.
To date, the following areas have provided opportunity for physician reassignment:
- Long term care
- Inpatient care
- Secondary assessment centers
- Access Clinics – Primary Care
- Emergency Medicine
- ICU/Critical Care
- Primary Assessment Center
- Virtual Care
Current needs are met but we expect these needs to fluctuate in the future. It is important to build a robust roster of available resources in the event that care needs change quickly. However, in some cases, physicians who volunteer for redeployment may not be matched as there is no current need identified.
The following guiding principles are to be considered:
- All programs will endeavour to continue current service delivery (reduced/unchanged/increased) and assist with COVID-19 care.
- Each physician has the ability to contribute to our combined effort to support pandemic response.
- Clinical work for COVID-19 patients will be performed by physicians who best meet the required skillsets and who would typically provide this level of care.
- Physicians reassignment is a voluntary program.
- Department Head (s), Site Lead(s), Zone Medical Executive Director will make every effort to fairly and equitably reassign work between departments when required.
- Reassignment request (s) may exist to provide support in another zone and will only occur if there is a critical need. Participation in these opportunities is voluntary.
- Physicians who are quarantined or ill, they may be requested to support virtual care assignments or COVID-19 planning if they are well enough to contribute.
- Please see Occupational Health guidelines for staff with chronic conditions as well as pregnant staff. These will be considered in reassignment opportunities.
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Provincial COVID-19 Status Update
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As of today, May 6, Nova Scotia has 998 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Seven new cases were identified Tuesday, May 5.
The QEII Health Sciences Centre's microbiology lab completed 764 Nova Scotia tests on May 5 and is operating 24-hours.
There are three licensed long-term care homes and unlicensed seniors' facilities in Nova Scotia with active cases of COVID-19. Northwood in Halifax currently has 160 residents and 51 staff with active cases. Two other facilities each have one staff member with an active case of COVID-19.
If you have two or more of the following symptoms, visit
https://811.novascotia.ca to determine if you should call 811 for further assessment:
- fever
- new or worsening cough
- sore throat
- runny nose
- headache
To date, Nova Scotia has 31,541 negative test results, 998 positive COVID-19 test results and 41 deaths. Confirmed cases range in age from under 10 to over 90. Five individuals are currently in hospital, two of those in ICU. Six-hundred and sixty-one individuals have now recovered and their cases of COVID-19 are considered resolved. Cases have been identified in all parts of the province. A map and graphic presentation of the case data is available at
https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/data .
Public health is working to identify and test people who may have come in close contact with the confirmed cases. Those individuals who have been confirmed are being directed to self-isolate at home, away from the public, for 14 days.
Anyone who has travelled outside Nova Scotia must self-isolate for 14 days. As always, any Nova Scotian who develops symptoms of acute respiratory illness should limit their contact with others until they feel better.
It is now more important than ever for Nova Scotians to strictly adhere to the public health orders and directives - practise good hygiene, maintain a physical distance of two metres or six feet from others, limit essential gatherings to no more than five people and stay at home as much as possible.
Quick Facts:
- testing numbers are updated daily at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus
- a state of emergency was declared under the Emergency Management Act on March 22 and extended to May 17
Additional Resources:
Government of Canada toll-free information line 1-833-784-4397
The Mental Health Provincial Crisis Line is available 24/7 to anyone experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis, or someone concerned about them, by calling 1-888-429-8167 (toll free)
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This section of our update is a list of helpful resources updated daily for physicians.
Please reach out to
Shawn Jolemore with your suggestions for additional content.
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Leadership and Wellness Poster
Updated for Week of May 4 - May 10
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Individual Executive Coaching for Physician Leaders with Executive Coach Lorie Campbell
Are you struggling to lead yourself or your team(s) well during this pandemic?
Take advantage of 30 or 60-minute focused, one-to-one virtual executive coaching sessions for formal physician leaders only. Email
Lorie Campbell to book a time for this free service, provided by NSHA Medical Affairs Leadership Development.
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A Short Survival Guide to COVID-19
Click here for
a link to an article written by local family doctor, Dr. Maria Patriquin for the Journal of the College of Family Physicians (
cfp.ca).
Mindfulness for Physicians: Incorporating Self-Compassion
With Dr. Nicole Herschenhous, Friday, May 8, 4-5 p.m.
Daily Physician Wellness Check In - COVID-19 What's Normal?
Join Drs. Jaqueline Kinley and John Chiasson for daily online meetings to chat about coping strategies and mental health concerns. Meetings are daily M-F at 12 NOON. and are open to all physicians. Click here for the
*updated* Zoom -
Join Zoom Meeting Link
New Local Website offering Support and Resources for NS Physicians
Please visit a new
website full of helpful resources and important contact information for NS physicians and their families, brought to you by volunteer members of the Dalhousie University Department of Psychiatry and Doctors Nova Scotia’s Professional Support Program.
DNS Professional Support Program
Feeling overwhelmed or need to talk to someone?
As we try to wrap our heads around the weekend’s tragic events and the senseless loss of so many innocent lives, I want to remind you that help is available. Whether you were directly connected to it or not, the tragedy intensifies the stress of the pandemic and the pressure on our lives due to the measures we are all following.
Contact the Doctors Nova Scotia (DNS)
Professional Support Program at 902-468-8215 or 1-855-275-8215 (toll-free) mail or via
email. LifeWorks by Morneau Shepell is also available to members and their families affected by the events in Portapique and surrounding communities. The crisis support line is open 24-7. Call 1-844-751-2133.
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Physician Screening for COVID-19
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Call 1-833-750-0632 to speak to Occupational Health and Safety for your screening options.
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