London Middlesex
Primary Care COVID-19 Update
September 19, 2020
This is a lengthy update compiling links to the most up-to-date COVID-19 information relevant to you as primary care providers. Our intention is for it to serve as a reference for you and your staff to refer back to, as needed. Thank you to Drina Silva from Thames Valley Family Health Team and Janet Dang, London Middlesex Primary Care Transformation Lead for helping us create this update.
COVID-19 Resources

New/Updated Guidelines for COVID-19


Infection Control and PPE:
  • PPE & Infection Control for In-Office Assessments - OCFP
  • Manufacturing Hand Sanitizer - Public Health Ontario
  • Ontario Health West is now able to supply primary care with PPE at no cost directly from the ON pandemic stockpile Order PPE Here if you need a transitional order to resume in-person care or need urgent supplies (if you have under 7 days and have already tried ordering from your regular suppliers). Providers receiving PPE from the ON pandemic supply must ensure their practices are in line with the PPE guidance available on conservation and appropriate use, as developed by the Chief Medical Officer of Health. If you receive this PPE, you are expected to report into the critical supplies and equipment (CSE) virtual inventory, as directed by Minister’s Order for the health sector. If you have any questions, please email HMMSCOVID19@hmms.on.ca

Patient requests for work accommodation:

Resuming Colon Cancer Screening
  • See more details about FIT and Colonoscopy screening here. Please await further guidance from CCO when you can expand screening to all eligible individuals as capacity allows. You should only send FIT requisitions for these groups at this time:
  • Average-risk people over age 60 who have never been screened for CRC
  • Average risk people with previous unsatisfactory FIT results
  • Eligible average risk people awaiting organ transplant. 

Provincial Infectious Disease Emergency Leave extended:
  • Provincial Infectious Disease Emergency Leave extended to January 2, 2021. This is a job protected leave for employees who have to isolate, quarantine, take care of a loved one at home or provide childcare due to COVID-19. 

Education opportunities:
  • Changing the way we work: this session focuses on COVID-19 and considerations as we plan for fall 2.0 and share how family physicians are working in the community during the pandemic. Register here. (COVID-19 Community of Practice for Ontario Family Physicians)
  • South West Self Management Program sessions/programs: Free workshops for health care providers

Research:
Influenza Immunization 2020-2021 Update

The Ministry of Health has not yet announced to physicians, pharmacies or public health units when the 2020/2021 influenza vaccine(s) will be available. We can still plan how we will deliver influenza vaccines, even though we don't yet know when we will be able to implement these plans. There is anticipated to be increased demand for influenza vaccine this year. Is your practice ready?

Resources and education:

From Middlesex London Public Health Unit:
  • The influenza vaccine will be available at participating pharmacies across London Middlesex; however, the administration of the Influenza vaccine will mostly be done by primary care providers.
  • MLHU’s immunization clinic at its Citi Plaza and Strathroy offices will continue to offer the influenza vaccine for those who cannot receive it elsewhere (i.e., for those who have no Ontario Health Card). 
Physician Safety
Practice facilitation and Quality Improvement

The Case for Practice Facilitation within Primary Care - a resource from the College of Family Physicians of Canada to support the advocacy of, and the deployment of, practice facilitators to support primary care quality
improvement initiatives. Did you know this is available to you? In our region Partnering For Quality is a unique program, free to you, that offers supports for you and your staff. Contact info@partneringforquality.ca to find out how they can support you.
If there are non-hospital COVID-19 related issues/solutions in your region, please escalate them to your
Regional Pandemic Clinical Lead
(tasked by Ontario Health West to facilitate, coordinate, and engage with stakeholders for the pandemic response within the SW LHIN area RE: primary care/vulnerable populations)...structure HERE.
Dr. Gordon Schacter
London-Middlesex
Co-Chair, SW Prim Care/Vulnerable Pop'n Response