CMO Weekly Update for AHS Medical Staff - In this issue: preferred email inbox - Alberta Health ...
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CMO Weekly Update for AHS Medical Staff
This update, provided every Friday, is intended to provide a summary of the key action
items, information and decisions for AHS Medical Staff in relation to clinical policies and
practices, and for the COVID-19 pandemic response. It is forwarded to physicians’
preferred email inbox.
In this issue:
• COVID-19 Case Status in Alberta
o Edmonton Zone Implementation of Additional Surge Capacity Measures
o Misericordia Community Hospital Update
o Foothills Medical Centre Update
• Doc of the Week
• Lab and Testing
o Revised Testing Criteria (COVID-19, Alberta)
o Pilot project to launch next month, giving travelers testing options
o Rapid Testing
• New Acute Care Directive for Designated Family/Support Access and Visitation
• Connect Care
• Influenza Information
• Physician Wellness
• Halloween Provincial Guidelines
• Canadian Patient Safety Week
• Additional Resources
COVID-19 Case Status in Alberta
This week brings more concerning numbers showing the continued spread of COVID-19
in the province, especially in our Edmonton and Calgary zones.
For the week ending on Oct. 21, the average number of daily new cases in the Calgary
Zone was 130, up from 80 the previous week, a 63 per cent increase. There was a 28
per cent increase in the average number of new daily cases in the Edmonton Zone — to
166, up from 130 the previous week. The Edmonton Zone accounts for 48 per cent of all
active cases in the province, a decrease from 55 per cent last week.
Provincewide, the average number of daily new cases for the week ending on Oct. 21 is
345, compared to 255 cases the previous week, a 35 per cent increase. During this
time, nearly half (45 per cent) of all cases had an unknown source of transmission; this
is increase of seven per cent from previous week. There are currently 3,519 active
cases of COVID-19 in the province, a 29 per cent increase from the previous week and
the most cases in Alberta on any given day.
Oct. 23, 2020 CMO Update | 1
Image source: alberta.ca/stats/covid-19-alberta-statistics.htm
During this period, individuals ages 20 to 49 years accounted for more than half (53 per
cent) of all new cases.
Image source: alberta.ca/stats/covid-19-alberta-statistics.htm
Currently, 112 people are being treated for COVID-19 in Alberta hospitals, with 18 of
those in intensive care units (ICUs).
Oct. 23, 2020 CMO Update | 2
Image source: alberta.ca/stats/covid-19-alberta-statistics.htm
NEW – Edmonton Zone Implementation of Additional Surge Capacity Measures –
Edmonton Zone’s system capacity has been stretched by isolation requirements,
outbreaks, contact tracing, COVID screening and testing and this has impacted staffing
and patient flow.
As a result, the decision has been made to activate new surge capacity measures in
order to support patient flow. This is a proactive measure to ensure that care is available
to those who most need it.
The additional temporary measures will include postponing approximately 30 per cent of
scheduled surgeries and adjusting ambulatory visits as required.
The surgical postponement will start on October 23, 2020. Urgent, emergent and cancer
surgeries will continue. Edmonton Zone remains committed to meeting the established
surgical targets and have plans in place to resume surgery and the cancelled surgeries
will be rescheduled as soon as possible.
UPDATE – Misericordia Community Hospital – A total of 16 patients have tested
positive for COVID-19. Thirteen staff members have tested positive.
Visitors to the affected units are being restricted at this time. We encourage families to
continue to meet virtually with their loved ones.
Sadly, two deaths are associated with the outbreak. We offer our deepest condolences
to these patients’ families and loved ones at this difficult time.
UPDATE – Foothills Medical Centre Outbreak – All of the services at the Foothills
Medical Centre (FMC) remain in place. The site is the city’s largest hospital and
provides specialized care such as trauma care, acute cardiac and stroke care.
No new patient cases of COVID-19 are linked to the outbreaks. The cumulative number
of confirmed patient cases remains at 47. There are five active COVID-19 patients
linked to these outbreaks who are still receiving care in hospital.
One new healthcare worker associated with the outbreaks has tested positive. The total
cumulative number of positive healthcare workers is 43. Of those, 38 are eligible to
return to work.
• From September 19 to October 23, a cumulative total of 326 healthcare workers
(HCWs) have been restricted from work at some point during the outbreak
investigation due to association with outbreak units or contact tracing.
As of today, October 23, approximately 80 per cent of the 326 HCWs who have been
restricted at FMC due to the COVID-19 outbreaks are able to return to work – provided
they have not been symptomatic or tested positive.
Oct. 23, 2020 CMO Update | 3
More than 4,000 COVID-19 tests have been completed onsite with healthcare workers
and physicians since the outbreak was declared.
For updates about the Foothills Medical Centre outbreak, please visit ahs.ca/covidfmc.
REMINDER – Please Stay Home When Sick & Stay Vigilant and Make Sure Your
Group has Arranged Back-up Call Schedules – During a pandemic it is possible
any one of us could develop symptoms unexpectedly, or become a close contact,
and we would be required to isolate in that event. It is critical that we all continue to
take required precautions to reduce the spread of COVID-19 within AHS workplaces.
If you have new symptoms, or if your usual symptoms get worse, stay home, minimize
contact with others, and complete the Self-Assessment Tool to determine your need for
COVID-19 testing. We each have a role to play in protecting each other – our patients,
staff, physicians and volunteers. We must all be diligent in modelling safe work
practices. Simple actions such as adhering to all personal protective equipment (PPE)
measures, completing your fit for work screening every day, washing your hands
regularly and physically distancing can slow the spread of COVID-19. For more
information, including the Online Fit for Work Screening Tool, visit ahs.ca/fitforwork. Talk
to your leader if you have questions about fit for work screening at your site.
As we continue to monitor our COVID-19 response and the impact on AHS healthcare
workers, we know that employee-to-employee/provider-to-provider transmission is
occurring. There is an extremely high-risk for transmission of COVID-19 in small,
enclosed spaces such as break rooms, charting areas, open work spaces and other
common areas if appropriate control measures are not followed. Moving chairs apart to
distance as best we can at every opportunity and wearing a mask at all times can help
keep everyone safe. Wearing a mask is not merely an expectation: this is a formal
requirement, and applies to all zones, and all AHS or subsidiary facilities (clinical and
corporate).
Thank you for your continued support and dedication.
Oct. 23, 2020 CMO Update | 4NEW – Doc of the Week
Dr. Richelle Schindler, Calgary Zone Medical Officer
of Health with AHS, and Specialist in Public Health
and Preventive Medicine is one of two recipients for
the Kristin Sivertz Resident Leadership Award.
This award, announced at the International
Conference on Residency Education (ICRE)
recognizes the best and brightest medical educators,
residents, program directors, and program
administrators.
Dr. Schindler has many achievements that have
earned her this award, including starting the medical
school contact tracing team in March 2020 and
undertaking her program’s largest-ever needs
assessment which created lasting change and
improved wellness for residents in her program.
For more information about Dr. Schindler and this award, please read this
announcement.
We would like to provide our sincere congratulations to Dr. Schindler.
Lab and Testing
NEW – Revised Testing Criteria for COVID-19 – On Tuesday, Alberta Health
announced updated COVID-19 testing criteria for Albertans. Asymptomatic testing is no
longer being provided.
In an effort to reduce wait times and speed up access to results for those at greatest risk
of illness, COVID-19 testing is currently offered only to Albertans in the following
groups:
• Albertans with symptoms of COVID-19.
• Albertans who are close contacts of a confirmed case, whether symptomatic or
not.
• Albertans who are linked to a known outbreak, whether symptomatic or not.
All Albertans in the above categories, including healthcare workers, will still receive
testing.
As this new testing approach will support more rapid turnaround of test results, we
anticipate healthcare workers will be better supported in effectively managing symptoms
or potential exposures.
The AHS online testing tool has been updated to reflect this new criteria.
Oct. 23, 2020 CMO Update | 5If you have symptoms, please stay home, advise your leader / medical leaders and go
to ahs.ca/covid to book a testing appointment.
If you are identified as a close contact of a confirmed case or linked to an outbreak,
whether you have symptoms or not, you will also need to follow all direction from AHS
Public Health and Workplace Health & Safety.
If you had already booked an appointment with AHS for an asymptomatic test, prior to
Tuesday’s announcement, you will still be tested. Your appointment will be honoured.
NEW – Pilot project to launch next month, giving travellers testing options – A
pilot project between the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada will
launch on Nov. 2, providing an option for travellers entering Canada through our
province to be tested for COVID-19 at both the Calgary International Airport and the
Coutts Border Crossing. AHS will work with the provincial and federal governments to
support this project. Throughout this pilot, AHS will ensure all routine contact tracing
follow-up is completed for all positive cases.
All AHS healthcare workers, including physicians, returning from travel outside of
Canada are required to adhere to the AHS fit for work screening and the isolation
requirements as determined by the return to work decision chart.
AHS or Covenant workers including staff, physicians, contractors, students, and
volunteers would not be permitted to return to work at any AHS or Covenant facility, or
within the community until 14 days after returning from travel outside of Canada.
Where feasible, AHS healthcare workers may work remotely while isolating, with leader
approval.
For essential travel guidance, AHS will continue to follow the official directive of the
Government of Alberta declared on March 12th which suspended all AHS business travel
outside of the province and country until further notice.
Standard testing through the pilot project will not be conducted by AHS; however, pilot
participants who develop symptoms during the pilot period will be referred to
AHS.ca/COVID to book a test through AHS, and will be provided with automated options
of receiving their test results through AHS. Please go here for more information on this
pilot project.
Meanwhile, effective Monday, October 26, outgoing Albertans can access a new fee-for-
service COVID travel testing service, offered by Dynalife Medical Labs. For $150,
travellers can be tested by appointment only and receive results that are valid within 72
hours of the arrival time at their destination. Tests must be booked at least 24 hours
before departure.
To access this testing, Albertans should visit ahs.ca/covid, and complete the self-
assessment, indicating they require testing for their outgoing travel plans. Albertans
requiring COVID testing for outgoing travel purposes will then be redirected to
Oct. 23, 2020 CMO Update | 6DynaLife’s travel testing booking system. Clients will be able to book an appointment at
the nearest available travel test collection site. Initial travel test collection sites will be
located in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Grande Prairie and
Fort McMurray. Clients may have to travel outside their community to be tested,
depending on testing centre availability and their travel itinerary timing.
UPDATE – Rapid Testing – Alberta Health Services has confirmed with the Public
Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) that we are interested in potentially using the Abbott
IDNow rapid molecular tests and the Abbott/PanBio rapid antigen tests that are being
procured by the federal government and allocated to the provinces and territories. We
are working with our federal and provincial counterparts for evaluating the performance
characteristics of these tests. This is critical work for understanding the most appropriate
scenarios in which these tests should be used in Alberta. The specific details on the
Alberta allotment size and the timeline for delivery of these tests to Alberta is still
pending from PHAC.
These are rapid testing systems that can produce results in approximately 15 minutes.
They are different from the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing upon which our
current provincial program is based. PCR testing must be performed in the lab, as it
involves amplifying the virus’s genetic material to a level where it can be detected.
UPDATE – COVID-19 Testing for Healthcare Workers – the Latest Numbers
Due to technical issues, an update of the AHS Healthcare Worker COVID-19 Testing
dashboard was not available in time for this week’s report. Please watch for an update
next week or check the dashboard for future updates.
Visitation
NEW – New Acute Care Directive for Designated Family/Support Access and
Visitation – The Designated Family/Support Access and Visitation in Acute Care,
Ambulatory, and Emergency Sites Directive came into effect on Oct. 21. All AHS
employees, medical and midwifery staff and other persons acting on behalf of AHS must
be familiar and comply with the directive.
As outlined in the directive, all acute care settings including ambulatory clinics and
Emergency Departments, must complete a Safe Site Access Assessment on a monthly
basis to assess specific issues that may impact family/support and visitor access to a
site. This assessment will ensure sites and staff identify any potential issues and
mitigation strategies on a continuous basis. This is in alignment with what has already
been done in continuing care sites across the province.
The directive also outlines the expectation that each AHS site is responsible for
implementing the COVID-19 Designated Family/Support and Visitation Guidance to the
furthest extent possible. We recognize that each site and each community is unique, so
the extent of family support and visitor restrictions may vary from site to site depending
on the Safe Site Access Assessment. AHS site managers may delegate the
responsibilities for implementation, but are ultimately accountable for implementing
family/support and visitation practices.
Oct. 23, 2020 CMO Update | 7A directive orientation video can be viewed here.
To address questions, concerns and zone specific circumstances, the Engagement and
Patient Experience team will be hosting directive orientation sessions through Zoom
next week.
Connect Care
UPDATE – The Countdown to Connect Care Wave 2 is On – Wave 2 of Connect
Care is set to launch at 5 a.m. on October 24 in the Edmonton Zone. We know that you
have all been involved in months and even years of preparation to bring us to this point
on the Connect Care journey.
We know that with increased pressure from the pandemic and our ongoing daily work
challenges, this has been an intense process. We also know that launching will result in
new issues that we will need to work through. We are prepared for this and have
ensured that throughout the launch period, Wave 2 teams will have resources and
supports available in-person and virtually.
If you have questions, or need support, please visit the Connect Care support page on
Insite – there are resources there to help you.
Once again, we want to thank everyone, and especially our Connect Care teams, for
your commitment to healthcare in this province. Thank you for your collaboration and
support of one another. Thank you for your amazing work to make Connect Care a
reality in Wave 2.
Influenza Information
UPDATE – Let’s work together to protect against the flu
Influenza immunization is more important this season, than ever before. Influenza
immunization will protect you and your loved ones, as well as vulnerable seniors,
children and those with chronic health conditions. By keeping the number of influenza
cases and outbreaks low, we can also do our part to help our teams focus on the
COVID-19 response.
Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) flu clinics and site champions are now offering the
flu shot to all members of our workforce. Staff can visit the site champion on their unit, or
they can:
• Find clinic details or a roving cart
• Attend a WHS clinic
All Albertans are encouraged to get the flu shot from a:
• Pharmacy: Available for Albertans age five and older. Check to confirm vaccine
availability.
• Doctor: Some doctors are offering flu shots. Please check with your physician's
office to check if they’re participating in the influenza immunization program,
whether vaccine is available and the age groups they are immunizing.
Oct. 23, 2020 CMO Update | 8• AHS Public Health Clinic: Available for children under five years of age and their
immediate family or household members.
Immunized at a pharmacy, doctors’ office or public health clinic? Report your
immunization status.
Check Insite for more details on the flu campaign including what to expect when
attending a WHS flu clinic and resources to support immunization.
Save Lives…Immunize!
Physician Wellness
UPDATE – PROactive: Violence in the Workplace - Experiences & Strategies
(PART 2) - Tuesday, October 27, 7– 9 p.m.
Zoom webinar. This second moderated panel-based session will offer conversations
about issues of concern that affect safety in the workplace and ideas for how to enhance
safety, what processes are available and the organizational and regulatory
commitments that enhance safety for providers.
Register here for this free session.
This event is hosted by PROactive: Partners in Professionalism, a collaborative effort of
between AHS, AMA, CPSA, HQCA , and the Faculties of Medicine at the two
Universities to explore means of enhancing professionalism within Medicine and
advancing the principles of a just culture.
UPDATE – Physician Wellness Zoom Rooms are resuming every second Tuesday
from 5-6 p.m. - Tuesday, November 3, 5–6 p.m.
Physician Wellness Zoom Room, open discussion co-hosted by Dr. Debrah Wirtzfeld,
associate chief medical officer of Physician Health, Diversity and Wellness for AHS, and
Dr. Jennine Wismark, associate chief medical officer, Physician Wellness and
Development for Covenant Health.
Join here.
NEW – COVID Corner: Unmasking Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Issues for
Patients and Physicians - Wednesday, November 4, 7–9 p.m.
Zoom webinar.
Register here for this free session.
NEW – Halloween during COVID-19
Celebrate the spookiest time of year without the fear of spreading COVID-19.
Oct. 23, 2020 CMO Update | 9The Government of Alberta has released information about celebrating this Halloween,
including Trick or Treating, handing out candy, and Halloween parties that include tips
about physical distancing. Visit their webpage to learn how to stay safe.
NEW – Canadian Patient Safety Week – Oct 26-30, 2020
Alberta Health Services is proud to take part in Canadian Patient Safety Week 2020,
taking place from October 26 - 30. Along with the Canadian Patient Safety Institute
(CPSI), we’re encouraging every person to #ConquerSilence.
AHS is helping CPSI with its mission of providing extraordinary improvements in patient
safety. This year’s theme is Virtual Care is New to Us. The way to make sure healthcare
providers and patients make the most of virtual appointments is to use the tried and true
basics – encourage patients to ask questions and to bring an advocate with them to
appointments.
Resources for Physicians:
• AHS Virtual Health
• COVID-19 FAQ for Clinicians
• COVID-19 Testing and Self-Isolation Criteria
• CPSA’s physician portal
• Cumming School of Medicine Continuing Medical Education (CME) Resources
• Donning and Doffing of PPE
• How to Access AHS Insite and Email
• How to do a Nasopharyngeal (NP) Swab (New England Journal of Medicine)
• IPC Emerging Issues
• Online Healthcare Worker Self-Assessment Tool
• Physician & Family Support Program - 1-877-SOS-4MDS (767-4637)
• Spectrum – A mobile app customized to deliver local antimicrobial stewardship
guidelines, resistance data, dosing information, and AHS COVID-19 related
content.
• Physician Wellness Educational Resources: Well Doc Alberta
• COVID-19 Questions? Contact your local Zone Emergency Operations Centre
(ZEOC):
o ZEOC.South@ahs.ca
o ZEOC.Calgary@ahs.ca
o ZEOC.Central@ahs.ca
o ZEOC.Edmonton@ahs.ca
o PCH.ZEOCNorth@ahs.ca
• If you would like Zone MOH to assist in risk assessment, contact your Zone
Medical Officer of Health on call
For more information
• Visit the COVID-19 Healthcare Professional information page on the AHS
website for more information or contact AHS.ECC@ahs.ca.
Oct. 23, 2020 CMO Update | 10• Additional updates and information are being shared through the College of
Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA).
• AHS Medical Staff can also view the daily update from the AHS CEO and Senior
Medical Officer of Health (SMOH) by accessing their AHS email inbox.
Do you have COVID-19 questions, information, or a physician or team who have gone
above and beyond during the pandemic, that you would like to see covered in an
upcoming edition of the COVID-19 CMO update? Let us know at CMO@ahs.ca.
Sincerely,
Dr. Francois Belanger
Vice President, Quality and Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Laura McDougall
Senior Medical Officer of Health
Oct. 23, 2020 CMO Update | 11You can also read
