The following has been sent to all medical staff and Vancouver Island Divisions of Family Practice on behalf of Dr. Ben Williams, Interim VP of Medicine, Quality and Academic Affairs, Dr. Chris Hall, Executive Medical Director, Medical and Academic Affairs.
COVID-19 Medical Staff Self-Isolation Update, Screening Guidelines and Clinic Updates
This afternoon, Dr. Henry revised the March 12 travel advisory. Click here.
"Please be advised that self-isolation does not apply to health-care workers who travel outside of Canada and provide direct patient care (e.g. physicians, nurses, care aides, etc.) unless they have travelled to Hubei Province in China, Italy, or Iran.
However, all health-care providers who have travelled outside of Canada are required to self-monitor daily and use appropriate PPE when providing care. If a health-care worker develops symptoms, they should self-isolate and contact their regional medical health officer…"
More details can be found in the letter from Dr. Henry.
Medical staff screening
Asymptomatic medical staff will not be tested. A negative test in an asymptomatic person has no utility and cannot be used to determined return to work.
Medical staff who become symptomatic can be tested. A process is being developed for medical staff who become symptomatic, either at work or home, to facilitate testing for flu and/or COVID-19. Further information will be shared when available.
Payment for Medical Staff who undergo MHO quarantine as a result of COVID-19 exposure:
Under the terms of the physician master agreement, payment is available for medical staff who undergo quarantine at the order of a Medical Health Officer. There is agreement at the Ministry of Health that the order to undergo quarantine may be issued by either the Provincial MHO or the local MHO.
Physicians who are required to undergo quarantine will be instructed by the DoBC how to apply for the funding. Physicians required to be quarantined should call DoBC for that advice.
A physician can access the funding for multiple quarantines.
Patient screening guidelines
Screening guidelines (please note, link updated June 24) will change frequently. Continue to check the medical staff website for updates.
- Symptomatic patients who meet criteria can be referred by their primary care physicians and the 8-1-1 service as well as the Emergency Departments as those sites become available.
- More community screening sites on Vancouver Island may be established.
- A community-screening site has been established at the Victoria Health Unit.
- This one-pager is for patients referred to the South Island Screening Clinic.
- Asymptomatic people will NOT be screened.
- Symptomatic patients who are unwell will continue to present to emergency departments to receive care.
Infection control practices and PPE
- PPE remains your source of protection and safety. Droplet and contact precautions are adequate, please review.
- N95 masking is not required for non-invasive encounters of COVID-19.
- N95 masking is required for aerosol generating procedures.
- N95 fit testing is available. Please note that are specific preparation requirements that must be followed prior to your testing session. Fit testing takes time and cannot be squeezed in between patient visits. We appreciate your cooperation as we try to test the large volume.
- Please report your N95 fit testing on the Medical Staff website.
Island Health’s Executive Led Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) continues to guide our response in alignment with provincial response. The Island Health EOC structure is available here. Local medical leadership are involved in all EOC work streams. Contact your local medical leadership for more information.
The medical staff website (MedicalStaff.IslandHealth.ca) contains the latest information for medical staff. This site is updated throughout the day multiple times a day, including outside of business hours.