COVID-19 Resource Center for Physicians

Below you'll find COVID-19 information for physicians from a variety of sources including Alberta Health Services, Well Doc Alberta and more. See outdated information? Clicked on a broken link? Get in touch with us at webmaster@albertadoctors.org!
Looking for information on support for your practice as well as business continuity planning during the COVID-19 pandemic? Find this and more on our COVID-19 Business Supports page.
On this page:
Click the links to jump to your desired section.
Please be advised: Alberta Health Services is the primary source for COVID-19 information and hosts clinical resources for all providers, including those in primary care. Visit Ahs.ca/covid for resources. The Alberta Health website is also a great resource, which includes official updates from the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, and actions being taken to protect the health of Albertans. |
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
- Nourishing Our Bodies During the Pandemic
- Civility and Respect: How We Can Be at Our Best During the Pandemic and Beyond
- Sleep Strategies: Helping Physicians Through COVID-19
- Grieving the Loss of Normalcy During the Pandemic
- Mindfulness for Physicians During the COVID-19
- Helping Each Other Through the Pandemic: Providing Informal Physician-to-Physician Peer Support
- Physician Wellness During COVID-19: The Basics
Podcasts
- Sleep
- Wellness on the Front Lines of a Pandemic
- Staying Connected: Emotional Connection Amidst Physical Distancing
- Empathy & Compassion: Offering What We Can During COVID-19
- Self-Awareness: More Important Than Ever
Webinars
- The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Test of System-Level Physician Wellness
- Physician Wellness: Feeling Distress, Understanding Loss, and Finding Meaning
- 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.