New Clinical Information

• February 24: Vaccine Booking For Those 75 and Older:
  Albertans born in 1946 or earlier can now book their COVID-19 immunization appointment online at ahs.ca/covidvaccine or through Health Link at 811. More information.
• February 10: APL Bulletin on SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern
  All samples are now being tested for COVID variants. Physicians will continue to receive positive or negative COVID results as normal.
• Vaccine Sequencing for Health Care Workers
  Health care workers providing direct and acute patient care who have high potential for spread to high-risk individuals, are included in Phase 2.
• 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.

Vaccine Resources

• Be a Vaccine Positive Clinic
  A toolkit to support family physicians and practice teams in conversations with patients about the COVID-19 vaccine.
• COVID-19 Immunization FAQ for Community Physicians
  FAQs from AHS on COVID-19 immunizations. Updated February 25
• 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 February 5
• 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

Vaccine information for health care workers

• Vaccine sequencing for health care workers
  Web page with the approach and general information on vaccine sequencing.
• COVID-19 vaccine sequencing for health care workers
  Detailed information on each stage and where we are heading.
• COVID-19 vaccine sequencing for health care workers FAQ
  A frequently asked questions document to address questions healthcare workers may have about the COVID-19 vaccine.

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, 2020
• 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 February 25

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

• COVID-19 FAQ on Infection Prevention and Control and Exposure for Community Physicians
  FAQs from AHS on immunization topics
• 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

• COVID-19 FAQ on Patient Care and Testing for Community Physicians
  FAQs from AHS on patient care and testing updated February 23
• Meeting Patients’ Needs
  Algorithm from ACTT updated November 16, 2020
• Screening and Testing Algorithm
  AHS Infection Prevention and Control resource published August 27, 2020
• Resources to Support COVID-19 Care in Communities
  Quick guide from AHS, ACTT and PCNs updated January 6

Resources for your Practice

• Community Physician Provincial Readiness Checklist
  Resource from ACTT updated November 24, 2020
• Daily Fit for Work Screening
  PCN Incident Response Task Force resource updated September 29, 2020
• Return to Work Guide
  PCN Incident Response Task Force resource updated December 3, 2020

Hospital Transitions to Community for COVID-19 Patients

• Transitions Checklist for Primary Care
  Home to Hospital to Home Transition Checklist from ACTT published April 22, 2020

Evidence Reviews

• February 8: COVID-19 Rapid Reviews - COVID-19 and Vitamin D: Partners in Crime, or Simply Associates?
  Rapid Evidence Brief: Vitamin D in Treatment d Prevention of COVID-19
  This rapid review found that while observational evidence suggests an association between low vitamin D levels and COVID-19 infection, it is unclear if this is simply reflective of overall health status.
• February 2: Rapid Evidence Report: Ivermectin in the Treatment and Prevention of COVID-19
  The new evidence report found that Ivermectin should not be prescribed or taken to prevent or treat COVID-19 outside of a clinical trial.
• Rapid Evidence Report: Can people with previous COVID-19 infection be reinfected by the virus?
  This rapid evidence report found that reinfection after recovery is possible but rarely reported. Physicians suspicious of a COVID-19 reinfection should refer to this document for guidance.
• Rapid Review: Chronic Symptoms of COVID-19
  Evidence summary from AHS COVID-19 Scientific Advisory Group. November 23, 2020

Hospital-Based Physicians

• AHS Weekly Updates
  Weekly Messages from AHS Senior Leadership
• COVID FAQs for AHS Staff
  FAQs for AHS Staff updated February 11
• 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.

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, 2020 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

COVID-19 webinar

Below is a recording of our most recent webinar related to the topic of COVID-19. For older webinars, please visit our Webinars & Online Learning page.

AMA partners and stakeholders should feel free to use the presentation material as they see fit for their own members. The AMA would ask that, where applicable, partners recognize the AMA via a short credit/author note. Thank you!

March 3, 2021

Webinar #5: COVID Talks for Docs

This was the fifth webinar in the bi-weekly series on the care and management of COVID-19 patients in the community. Webinar #5 was designed to support physicians’ mental health in a rapidly changing environment.

Resources from this webinar:

• AMA’s Physician and Family Support Program
• WellDoc Alberta