COVID-19 Update from the Department of Medicine
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As of June 26, 2020 in Nova Scotia
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1,061
total confirmed cases; none since June 9
(898 in Central Zone)
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52,553
total negative tests
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2
in hospital
(2 non-ICU; 0 ICU)
both cases are resolved
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Hi Everyone,
It is exciting that we can celebrate 16 days with no new COVID cases and now,
no active cases in the province. Additionally in a weeks’ time we will be able to enjoy a bit more movement when the
Atlantic bubble opens. Let’s use this opportunity to explore our beautiful Atlantic provinces during the summer; as we continue to abide by the national and provincial directives to refrain from non-essential travel.
As our protocols for COVID and non-COVID clinical work have settled into place for the intermediate future, one of the really important things we can do as we redirect our time as health care professionals, is to
help stop the spread of misinformation around COVID-19. There is already a lot of misinformation on the internet and COVID has taken it to the next level. This can be confusing, not just for us, but for our patients. It can lead to unintentional poor decisions that can affect ones health and wellness. For instance, zero cases in Nova Scotia is exciting, but zero cases does not equal zero COVID (at least not yet) and it is not permission to abandon all of the great things we have been doing to get to where we are, like social distancing and rigorous hand hygiene.
I was able to attend a great session, earlier this week, sponsored by CADTH (Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health) on the COVID-19 “infodemic”. Timothy Caulfield presented as well as Barbara Greenwood Dufour (from CADTH). They provided some great tips and information on how to assess the quality of information we find on the internet:
The good news from Tim Caulfield is that literature supports that battling misinformation works and evidence matters. This is a great time to make teaching about misinformation part of our daily clinical care.
Happy reading and have 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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Heidi Blois
Division of Respirology
Heidi celebrated thirty years with the NSHA in 2019. She has worked 21 of those years with Respirology. She started with the Health Authority in 1989 with the Department of Nursing in the Nursing Office as an office admin. In 1999 she had her first introduction to the Department of Medicine by taking a maternity leave in Neurology and enjoyed working with physicians and the Department of Medicine so much that she accepted a Team Lead job in Respirology in January 2000 and never looked back. Heidi is looking forward to her retirement that will include lots of time in her garden.
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Dr. David Simpson
Division of General Internal Medicine
Dr. David Simpson joined the Division of General Internal Medicine in 1981 as a fresh faced resident. In 1984, he joined the Department as a staff physician. Dr. Simpson served as the GIM Division Head from 2007 to 2016 and the Department of Medicine’s Associate MTU Director.
Not only was he a member of our department but he was also promoted to Full Colonel in 1990 with the Canadian Armed Forces upon his retirement from military service in 1995. During his military career he was the Commanding Officer of Canadian Forces Hospital Halifax from 1992 to 1995.
During his time with GIM he took a very active role in postgraduate and undergraduate education; serving on the MTU Education Committee, the Internal Medicine Residency Program Committee, and the Undergraduate Medical Education Committee.
Dr. Simpson has many plans for his retirement, besides learning to use his cell phone, he hopes to spend some time auditing history classes, travelling, learning to cook, and spending some time at the gym.
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Sophie Montreuil
DoM Education
Sophie Montreuil has been an extremely strong member of the core education team, seeing the program through Royal College Accreditation and most notable the implementation of Competence by Design. She played a leading role in implementing CBME for both staff and residents in the DOM and the launch of the core Competency Committee. Her involvement in Simulation and POCUS for the core program cannot go unnoted.
It is hard to let our team member go! Saying she will be greatly missed is an understatement; but we are excited for her new family adventure to Germany with her husband’s military career.
Katie, Nina, Amanda and Dr. Epstein
IM Core Education Office
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Gradual easing of some hospital visitor restrictions
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Inpatients can identify one family/support person as a designated visitor (effective June 23).
Visitors:
- will be contacted by Care Teams to schedule visits and review protocols.
- may rotate on a weekly basis.
- must be at least 18 years old.
- are encouraged to wear a non-medical mask.
- cannot sit on the patient’s bed, use patient washrooms, share devices, books, food, or bring gifts or cards.
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LTC facilities and
veterans units are implementing procedures to
allow outdoor visits following directions from the Medical Officer of Health.
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Reference documents - visitor restrictions
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revised June 23
revised March 24
revised May 22
revised May 21
revised June 23
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GIM Ambulatory Care Referrals
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In the setting of COVID-19, the Division of General Internal Medicine has significantly increased the proportion of ambulatory care being provided by virtual means.
When new referrals are received, they will be triaged by an attending internist as requiring virtual versus inpatient assessment.
Please advise your patient at the time of referral that the majority of new referrals will be
seen on a virtual basis (either video via Zoom telehealth or phone),
unless the triaging internist is confident that
in-person examination will change management.
In-person follow-ups may be offered based on the initial virtual assessment on an as needed basis. If you have a clinical question that does not require internist assessment of the patient, please request a provider to provider phone consultation in your referral letter.
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Atlantic Bubble Announced
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Interprovincial travel will be permitted within
- Nova Scotia
- New Brunswick
- Prince Edward Island
- Newfoundland & Labrador
without the requirement to self-isolate for Atlantic Canadian residents,
beginning Friday, July 3.
- Public health directives must be followed.
- Provinces will choose their own processes to track and monitor travelers.
From:
Council of Atlantic Premiers
News Release - June 24, 2020
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Atlantic travel bubble starts July 3
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New Gathering Limits Announced
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Premier Stephen McNeil and Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer of health for Nova Scotia, announced June 18, changes to gathering limits given Nova Scotia’s low rates of COVID-19.
Highlights of news release:
- Can gather in groups of up to 10 people without physical distancing. People are not required to be exclusive but they are strongly encouraged to maintain a consistent group. Change replaces the family bubble concept.
- Gatherings of up to 50 now allowed but people must observe physical distancing. This applies to social events, faith gatherings, sports and physical activity, weddings and funerals, and arts and culture events like theatre performances, dance recitals, festivals and concerts.
- Playgrounds can start reopening.
From:
News Release - June 18, 2020
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The Province’s changes to gatherings
do not apply
to workplaces.
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Return to Dalhousie Campus
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Highlights:
- First phase begins July 2; only individuals required to work on campus will return at this time.
- A maximum of 25% of the collective, university-wide personnel will be permitted to return to campus in the first phase.
- Timing and scope of future phases to be determined.
- President Saini's memo from May 20, noted the fall term will be predominantly online, with very limited exceptions tied to accredited professional programs that specifically require in-person delivery (e.g., Medicine, Dentistry, select Health professions, and the Veterinary Technology program in the Faculty of Agriculture).
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NEW GUIDELINES
for COVID-19 Vaccine Researchers
Dalhousie University has developed new guidelines for COVID-19 Vaccine Researchers to help ensure the security and integrity of research data and information -
available here (login required).
From:
Office of the Dean - COVID-19 Update #17 (June 12)
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Cybercriminals know people can be tricked; that’s why they
send out millions of scam messages and put so much effort into making them look convincing.
If scammers can trick one person into clicking on a malicious link they can gain access to our data.
We all need to be on guard against these cyberattacks so we can protect the health information of our patients and clients as well as our clinical information systems that we rely on to deliver timely, high quality care.
From:
IM/IT and Privacy
June 24
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Be aware of fake links
eg.
zoom meetings.
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Cybercriminals ramp up attacks during events when people are distracted.
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If you have clicked an unsafe link:
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- Forward the email (as an attachment) to reportphishing@nshealth.ca.
- Then delete the emails from your inbox and sent items.
If you clicked on a link or attachment by accident, please:
OR
- contact the Service Desk (473-3399).
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Finding childcare was a challenge for many healthcare workers during the pandemic. On June 15:
- daycare centres re-opened at 50% capacity
- family daycare homes re-opened at full capacity
Helps eligible families, with children 12 years and under, pay for a portion of child care fees at licensed child care facilities and regulated family home day care agencies.
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NSHA will be conducting a child care needs survey as
part of the second wave pandemic planning.
Details to come.
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In collaboration with the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal and contractors, projects will be guided by:
- Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC)
- Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S)
- Construction Infection Control Standards (CSA)
- operational clinical parameters
- provincial guidelines
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NSHA is restarting redevelopment projects paused on March 20, 2020.
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Weekly Update / DoM Grand Rounds
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COVID Update for DoM Members
June 16 highlights:
- Dr. Christine Short noted more services reopening; cases low; continue to work on long term plan for IMCU coverage and structure
- Dr. Ashley Miller is continuing to lead the Community COVID Virtual Care Team (CCVCT) which is the clinical team responsible for oversight of the remote monitoring app program
- Dr. Shelly McNeil addressing visitor and travel policies as Infection, Prevention and Control (IPAC)
- Highlights of June 15 email to physicians from Dr. Nicole Boutilier, VP Medicine: survey link; PPE supplied to private practices by DHW; links for upcoming webinars
June 23 highlights:
- Dr. Short noted today is the last Grand Rounds of the academic year. Next week will be the awards ceremony. Resident Grand Rounds will be held July and August, Tuesdays at 8 a.m.
- Province reports no new cases (for 12 consecutive days) and there are no active cases. Last new case was reported on June 9.
- Asking everyone to continue to follow public health measures and not to become complacent.
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DoM Awards Extravaganza!
Tuesday, June 30
8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Dr. Gord Gubitz will be MC for this virtual awards ceremony. Members across the department will be recognized in areas of education, research, clinical activity and administration.
To join, see email invitation from:
mary.synette@nshealth.ca
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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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