Primary Care Update on COVID-19 June 8, 2020

Primary Care Offices Order your PPE start-up kit at no charge ! Ontario Health West is implementing an easy-to-use process to provide an initial allocation of PPE at no charge. Fill in one order form per clinic address to obtain your PPE allocation. Read more here.

Elgin Mental Health And Addiction Resources Our Mental Health and Addictions Network has updated this document to reflect how to access services now. CHECK IT OUT

Updated List of Elgin County Pharmacies Several of our local pharmacies (11!) are now on Prescribe IT. We also have a few new pharmacies in Elgin - Welcome! If you are a physician and would like to use Prescribe-IT to transmit prescriptions electronically and get dispensing information right in your EMR click HERE for more information. Click the image to the right to download the list of Elgin County Pharmacies and see which ones are using Prescribe-IT. Request for Your Help Triaging Stress Tests at STEGH As STEGH re-opens their outpatient services, they would appreciate your help in triaging stress tests. We've temporarily updated the requisition ( PDF email will be sent to group leads for the Telus EMR version) for now and a revised requisition will be developed soon.

Guide for Re-Opening Primary Care and Community Specialist Offices This resource is intended to support YOUR decisions about re-opening your practice, based on your own local circumstances. www.swcovidtools.ca consolidates information from MOH, Public Health, provider associations, infection control professionals, etc., into one online resource. Find out about: Patient communication and active screening How do decide between in person and virtual visits Scheduling providers appropriately Infection prevention and control , including updated PPE requirements for health care workers Business continuity Office signage And much more.

Are you able to take on new patients? The Elgin ACT Team has a patient new to the area needing a primary care provider. Please contact terrilynn.timmermans@sjhc.london.on.ca directly if you can take this patient on.  The new Seasons Retirement Home is looking for a physician(s) to take on patients there and to be available to be on call for resident needs. Please contact Don Williams dwilliams@seasonsretirement.com directly.

Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Infection prevention and control knowledge is critical in order to protect patients and staff, and to help decrease the risk of transmission of infection in health care. We encourage you and your staff to access these resources: Online learning available through Public Health Ontario -- find out how at www.swcovidtools.ca Your regional PHO Infection Control and Prevention team: Find out about the services they provide and post their contact info as an easy reminder. You and your office staff can complete training here

New/Updated Provincial Guidelines for COVID-19 COVID-19 Operational Requirements: Health Sector Re-start – from MOH May 26, 2020 MOH primary care guidance document Case definition and list of symptoms Provincial Testing Guidance - June 2, 2020 Quick Reference Public Health Guide on Testing and Clearance - May 28, 2020 Labour, Delivery and Newborn Care ON now recommending face coverings for those who aren't able to physically distance

Dr. Kellie Scott Elgin kellie.d.scott@gmail.com