COVID-19 Updates March 20, 2020 - The Physician Health Program (PHP) has a 24/7 intake line and counselling staff who are standing by for your call in times of stress and burn-out. Call (1-800-663-6729) to speak to a trained Clinical Counsellor, or visit their website.
- New COVID-19 screening sites for symptomatic medical staff (physicians, NPs, midwives) are now open, more: medical staff site.
- Non-urgent MRI, CT, Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine and Fluoroscopy tests are postponed to decrease the potential transmission of COVID-19 in hospitals, more: medical staff memo.
- The Infection Management Advisory Committee’s recommendations on antiviral therapies are available here (medical staff site), and the Therapeutic Stewardship and Safety Quality Council prepared a report on the safe administration of respiratory medications (medical staff site).
- The Canadian Medical Protective Association has advice, support and medico-legal information for physicians (medical staff website).
- RoadSafetyBC is temporarily suspending the issuance of Driver Medical Examination Reports (DMER), along with any outstanding DMERs and other medical requirements. Physicians are still asked to report the highest-risk medically compromised drivers to RoadSafetyBC through Section 230 of the Motor Vehicle Act, and are asked to do so with as much information as possible to enable swift action by the Superintendent. For physicians needing to contact RoadSafetyBC during this time, please use the physician only telephone line: 1-250-953-8612.
- All BC employers have been asked by Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix to not require sick notes during the COVID-19 outbreak.
- GPSC is hosting a webinar for family physicians on Tuesday, March 24 at 6 pm to walk through the April 1 fee changes*, any COVID-19 related fee changes** that affect family physicians, and Pathways tools for COVID-19 care. Register here.
* changes to incentive fees for family doctors that will streamline, clarify, and improve rule consistency across fees
**two new fee codes for office visits for patients with suspected or active COVID-19 symptoms. More info
- The recording from the March 19 DTO Physician Quick Start to Virtual Care webinar is now available here. View the presentation here.
- In case you missed these items:
You can now access a 80% member discount for the Doxy.me telemedicine platform. Step by step instructions are available here and we are here to help. Please contact Kristin Atwood at katwood@divisionsbc.ca.
A comprehensive COVID-19 primary care package: Preparing your family practice for COVID-19 is available here, prepared by Drs Aaron Childs (VDFP) and Jaron Easterbrook (SIDFP) for the COVID-19 task group.
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