COVID, Cold & Flu

• Updated: COVID-19 vaccine guidance, MOH, Mar. 1
• Memo regarding an update on the supply of Infant Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine- MOH, Feb. 16
• Long COVID materials- UofT and OCFP, Feb. 24
• Answers to Long COVID FAQs, updated Feb. 14, OCFP
• A tool developed to help patients who have Long COVID and require disability supports, OCFP
• Paxlovid still offers high-risk COVID-19 patients protection against hospital admissions- The Globe and Mail, Feb. 13; study link here. 
• New one-and-done therapy can help curb severe COVID-19 infection: Canadian-led study - CTV, Feb. 8; study link here.
• Updated: COVID-19 Provincial Testing Guidance, MOH, Jan. 25

The following resources from Ontario Health/MOH are available at this link:

• Children and youth COVID-19 vaccine fact sheet (EN+FR)
• General vaccination key messaging for routine childhood immunization, influenza and COVID-19 vaccines (EN+FR)
• General COVID-19 booster dose fact sheet (EN+FR)
• MOH social posts covering (EN+FR): routine childhood immunization; COVID baby vaccine for children 6 months to under five; COVID kids bivalent booster dose for children aged 5-11
• COVID-19 poster developed by Government of Ontario (EN+FR)
• SickKids hotline material provided by SickKids (EN only)
• VaxFacts hotline material (EN, with link to their site for other languages)

Patient Care

• MPOX: updated recommendations for the management of case and contacts of monkeypox in Ontario, MOH, February
• DI Referrals: St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital now able to receive DI referrals through Ocean. Read more.
• New Prenatal Information Group: 5-week session from Thames Valley FHT RNs and dietitians; starts April 20 from 5:30-7:00 pm. This group is for pregnant adults (18+) and their partners(s)/support(s) who want to learn about overall prenatal wellness. Find out more.
• Interim Canada Dental Benefit: for eligible families earning less than $90,000 per year, for children under 12 who do not have private dental insurance. First benefit period: children under 12 as of Dec. 2022 who receive dental care between Oct. 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023. Find out more.
• Opioid abuse: new website (www.myopioidcme.ca) with links to accredited CME programs and screening tools for opioid abuse risk to assist with opioid prescribing.
• Trans and non-binary care: Rainbow Health Ontario trans health mentorship call on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month. Connect with peers who have experience caring for trans and non-binary service users. Open to any health care professional who wants to build knowledge, ask questions and share experiences on specific case-based questions or more general social or ethical issues. Find out more.
• Sickle Cell Disease (SCD): new Quality Standard, Quality Standard Placemat and related resources. The Patient Guide helps people living with SCD to know what to ask for in their care. From Ontario Health, these tools were developed with input from an advisory committee. 
• Health Connect Ontario changes name to Health811: Focus and function is the same. Access Health811 by calling 811 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007) or online at Ontario.ca/Health811 or Ontario.ca/Sante811. Read more.

Primary Care Provider Employment Opportunity - Community Paramedicine

Interested in working with the Community Paramedicine (CP) program On-Call Afterhours Primary Care Support Team?

The Middlesex-London Paramedic Service (MLPS) is recruiting primary care physicians for The On-Call Afterhours Primary Care Support Team, a support pathway to guarantee support to the community paramedic and patient. The On-Call Afterhours Primary Care Support Team will provide rotational afterhours primary care services for the CP program, to conference with a community paramedic on treatment plan options if/when required. 

To learn more about the job or the MLPS CP program and its scope of practice, please contact Superintendent Dustin Carter (dcarter@mlems.ca).

To apply for this position, please submit an expression of interest and resume to applications@mlems.ca (applications accepted anytime). 

About this new opportunity:

The MOH is implementing a new early adopter patient care model for select 911 medical emergency patients. These new models of care will enable the diversion of select patient cohorts to appropriate community-based care to reduce hallway health care and improve patient access to definitive care.

More on Community Paramedicine:

Community-based health care where paramedics use their education and expertise in non-emergent mobile integrated response to provide immediate or scheduled primary, urgent, and/or specialized healthcare to vulnerable patient populations while focusing on improving equity in healthcare access across the continuum of care.

MLPS CP program: a non-emergent mobile response team with specialized training designed to work in collaboration with primary care. The team provides a range of community-based primary care services in the comfort of a patient’s home. Delegation of controlled acts is in conjunction with the patient’s primary care provider.

More educational opportunities are available on the LMPCA website https://lmprimarycare.ca/education-opportunities/ 

Primary Care Obstetrics Grand Rounds

March 9, 7:30-8:30 am, virtual

• Join on your computer or mobile app: Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 213 843 413 95; Passcode: wfXWW6

Download Teams | Join on the web

• Join with a video conferencing device: swohealth@m.webex.com -- Video Conference ID: 114 925 536 9. Alternate VTC instructions
• Call in (audio only): +1 647-749-1074, 965116028# Canada, Toronto Phone Conference ID: 965 116 028# Find a local number | Reset PIN

Free, 1-on-1, Mainpro+ Accredited Best Practice CE Discussions with CEP/TVFHT's pharmacists (Academic Detailing)

Current Topics:

• Type 2 diabetes (insulin and non-insulin pharmacotherapy)
• Falls prevention
• Heart failure
• New topics every 5-6 months

Facilitates practice change by tailoring information and resources to the your interests/practice. For family physicians, primary care NPs, family medicine residents. 

Thames Valley FHT sites: Contact your FHT pharmacist to book

All other sites: book a virtual visit or email Nicole to set up an in-person visit (nicole.seymour@cep.health)

Pediatric psychopharmacology: 3-part series

From ECHO Ontario CYMH, a special interest series in March 2023. Focus is on research and practical advice about using the most commonly prescribed medications for children and youth. Register here.

• Part 1 - Depression and Anxiety – Mar. 15
• Part 2- Autism or Neurodevelopmental Disorders (TBC) – Mar. 22
• Part 3 - TBD

In the Know: Palliative Education Series 

Explore a palliative approach to care for people with non-malignant diseases. Register here. For prior recordings, click here.

• April 12 at 12pm OR April 26 at 7pm - People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities - The Intellectual & Developmental Disability Palliative Care Committee 
• May 10 at 12pm OR May 31 at 7pm - ALS - Denise Martins 

31^st Annual Clinical Day in Family Medicine

Wednesday, May 10, Four Points by Sheraton in London. Register here (early bird registration closes March 22). See the flyer with more details.