New Clinical Information

• January 14: Changes to COVID-19 Results Notifications: Patients Now Able to Choose a Pediatrician as Main Provider
  AHS reports 49% of entries list a physician/NP which means that community physicians, including pediatrics, are receiving more notifications.
• January 12: Rapid Evidence Brief: Vitamin D in Treatment and Prevention of COVID-19
  The new evidence brief found that there is no high quality evidence that suggests taking vitamin D supplements is specifically effective in the prevention or treatment of COVID-19.
• December 17: COVID-19 Health Professional Immunization Information

Vaccine Resources

• COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
  AH information on Alberta's vaccine phases and progress to date
• Tool for Practice: COVID Vax Fast Facts: Say That 10 Times Fast
  PEER rapid review on the safety & efficacy of 3 COVID-19 vaccines. Published December 21, 2020.
• COVID-19 Health Professional Immunization Information
  Information and resources on COVID-19 immunizations for health professionals in Alberta
• COVID-19 Vaccine Information Sheet
  AHS Information on the COVID-19 vaccine updated December 28, 2020
• Vaccine COVID-19 FAQs
  AHS Frequently Asked Questions on the COVID-19 vaccine
• Recommendations on the use of COVID-19 Vaccine(s)
  Government of Canada website with COVID-19 vaccine resources
• Centre for Effective Practice COVID-19: Vaccines
  CEP web page with resources from Ontario on the COVID-19 vaccines

Zone-Specific Resources

North Zone

• Pediatric Testing and Isolation Pathway – Updated January 6
• Pediatric Outpatient Clinical Management Pathway – Updated January 6
• Positive Primary Care Pathways
  ConnectMD PCN program

Calgary Zone

• Positive Primary Care Pathways
  Specialist LINK service
• COVID Positive Discharge Pathway: Calgary Zone
  PCNS Calgary and Area and AHS resource updated May 8
• Medical Home Q&A with Dr. Christine Luelo
  Click the above link then scroll down to Newsletters/Updates for COVID-19 in the Calgary Zone: PCN Update. Updated January 14.

Central Zone

• Primary Care COVID-19 Pediatric Testing and Isolation Pathway
  PCNs Central Zone Committee and AHS resource updated December 16, 2020
• Pediatric COVID-19 Outpatient Clinical Management Pathway
  PCNs Central Zone Committee and AHS resource updated December 16, 2020
• Primary Care COVID-19 Adult Pathway
  PCNs Central Zone Committee and AHS resource updated December 16, 2020

Edmonton Zone

• Positive Primary Care Pathways
  ConnectMD PCN program

Community Physicians

Infection Prevention & Control

• Continuous Use of Eye Protection
  Memo from COVID-19 PCN Incident Response Task Force published December 5, 2020
• Personal Protective Equipment
  AHS web page on PPE

Patient Care

• Meeting Patients’ Needs
  Algorithm from ACTT updated November 16
• Screening and Testing Algorithm
  AHS Infection Prevention and Control resource published August 27
• Rapid Review: Chronic Symptoms of COVID-19
  Evidence summary from AHS COVID-19 Scientific Advisory Group. November 23, 2020
• Resources to Support COVID-19 Care in Communities
  Quick guide from AHS, ACTT and PCNs updated January 6, 2021

Resources for your Practice

• Community Physician Provincial Readiness Checklist
  Resource from ACTT updated November 24
• COVID-19 FAQ’s for Community Physicians
  FAQs from PCNs and AHS updated December 24, 2020
• Daily Fit for Work Screening
  PCN Incident Response Task Force resource updated September 29
• Return to Work Guide
  PCN Incident Response Task Force resource updated December 3

Hospital Transitions to Community for COVID-19 Patients

• Patient Discharge from Hospital Flowsheet
  AHS Provincial Medicine Task Force resource published June 10
• Transitions Checklist for Primary Care
  Home to Hospital to Home Transition Checklist from ACTT published April 22

Hospital-Based Physicians

• AHS Weekly Updates
  Weekly Messages from AHS Senior Leadership
• COVID FAQs for AHS Staff
  FAQs for AHS Staff updated January 11, 2021
• Daily Fit for Work Screening
  Online questionnaire tool to improve efficiency at screening stations
• Resources for AHS Staff & Health Professionals
  Database to search for COVID-19 Resources

Your Mental Health

During a pandemic such as COVID-19, physicians may encounter heightened stress and challenges. You may feel fatigue, worry or anxiety. If in distress, please consult the following resources:

Contact AMA’s Physician and Family Support Program for CONFIDENTIAL help 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days a year:

• 1.877.SOS.4MDS (767.4637)
• International: 403.930.0529 (you may call collect)

WellDoc Alberta has released seven Bulletins, five podcasts and three webinars. All are available on its helpful resources page: 

Bulletins

1. Nourishing Our Bodies During the Pandemic
2. Civility and Respect: How We Can Be at Our Best During the Pandemic and Beyond
3. Sleep Strategies: Helping Physicians Through COVID-19
4. Grieving the Loss of Normalcy During the Pandemic
5. Mindfulness for Physicians During the COVID-19
6. Helping Each Other Through the Pandemic: Providing Informal Physician-to-Physician Peer Support
7. Physician Wellness During COVID-19: The Basics

Podcasts

1. Sleep
2. Wellness on the Front Lines of a Pandemic
3. Staying Connected: Emotional Connection Amidst Physical Distancing
4. Empathy & Compassion: Offering What We Can During COVID-19
5. Self-Awareness: More Important Than Ever

Webinars

1. The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Test of System-Level Physician Wellness
2. Physician Wellness: Feeling Distress, Understanding Loss, and Finding Meaning
3. Parenting as a Physician during COVID-19: Unique Challenges and Strategies

Virtual Care

On June 9, 2020, Alberta Health Bulletin 231 announced that virtual care codes put in place during the pandemic were made permanent and the restrictions regarding situations of a public health emergency were removed. All other existing rules related to the virtual care codes remained in place including the rates.

A few reminders:

• Virtual care codes do not apply to the limitations of “V” category code as they relate to the Daily Cap for office, home and unregistered facilities.
• BCP and RRNP do not apply to virtual care codes and complex modifiers do not apply to virtual care codes. Only time spent directly with the patient may be used in the calculation of time for claiming services and the actual time spent with the patient must be recorded in the patient's chart.
• The AMA is seeking improvements to the codes to include modifiers and to allow for a wider range of visit services.

Have questions about using virtual care codes? View the AMA Billing Corner for helpful information and answers to common questions.

Have questions on adopting Virtual Care? We have assembled resources to help physicians prepare for providing increased virtual care. Find tips for getting started on our Virtual care page.

COVID-19 Business Supports

Information, news and resources for supporting your practice and clinic and assist with business continuity planning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following topic areas are included: federal and provincial economic measures; banking and finances; information on medical-legal protection; impacts on AMA insurance programs; and tips for employers (as prepared by legal firm, McLennan Ross). Visit web page.

Medical Student Support for Health Care Workers

Need help with childcare, groceries, pet care, pharmacy runs or other errands? Medical students from the Universities of Alberta and Calgary are volunteering to help health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information and to sign up for services, please use the respective forms below.

• University of Alberta
• University of Calgary - Please note the Calgary Students for Healthcare Workers Initiative is no longer accepting new applications. Learn more

Please be advised these initiatives are led by students and are not affiliated with either of the faculties of medicine.

AMA Staff and Organizational Preparedness

While we are in this crisis situation, the AMA will do its best to maintain business as usual. In an effort to be cautious and responsible, as of March 16 all AMA employees are working from home, consistent with our business continuity plan and measures that many public institutions are taking to facilitate social distancing.

Please do not visit our offices, but rest assured we are available by phone and email. For physicians who would have visited our offices during this period, staff will be in touch to offer alternative ways to participate in meetings.

• Email amamail@albertadoctors.org
• Telephone 780.482.2626
• Toll-free 1.800.272.9680

Educational Materials

Alberta Society of Gastroenterology

Educational videos provided by ASG to help educate GI and GPs in Alberta. The information contained in the videos or documents may be time sensitive and it is important to note date of posting and follow current regulations or protocols should they have changed since the video or documents were made available.