Dear Executive Directors and Administrative Leads,
The third province-wide stay-at-home order took effect today at 12:01 AM.
Under the stay-at-home order, primary care teams are encouraged to continue virtual care wherever possible but do not stop or delay in-person care. It remains at a clinician’s discretion to determine if a patient needs to be seen in person.
While all teams have continued to deliver virtual care since the pandemic began, a reminder that the following are available as support tools in determining virtual vs. in-person care:
- COVID-19 Guidance: Primary Care Providers in a Community Setting (v.7) (Ontario Health)
- Considerations for family physicians: In-person visits when phone/video isn’t enough (OCFP)
- Determining when to schedule in-person vs. remote visits (CEP)
- Suggested in-person primary care services (Ontario Health West)
- Managing HR through COVID (Maria McDonald, McDonald HR Law)
- General tools and resources for virtual care
In yesterday’s announcement, the provincial government did not address some of what we consider important to help control the spread, such as paid sick days. However, the pivot to go into high-risk communities and to vaccinate anyone there aged 18 and older is a step in the right direction.
These mobile teams – part of Phase Two in the COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan – are starting in the regions with the highest rates of transmission (ex. Toronto, Peel). This will expand to other hot spot regions based on established patterns of transmission, severe illness, and mortality. The news release can be read here.
We received this memo today from ADM Patrick Dicerni regarding vaccination. On a related note, we encourage teams to work with public health regarding the mobile teams that will go to high-risk congregate settings, residential buildings, faith-based locations, and locations occupied by large employers in high-risk communities. Vaccinating is something primary care does best, and no one knows their communities better! If your team has the capacity, reach out to your public health unit as primary care can play a key role in getting these shots in arms.
This is hopefully the final time we’ll see a stay-at-home order issued in Ontario for COVID-19.
If you have any questions, please contact us at info@afhto.ca.
Stay well,
AFHTO
Relevant Link:
Leave a Reply