COVID-19 Information for Residency Programs - Week of January 11, 2022
COVID Update
- Personal Protective Equipment
- No current shortages/restrictions
- Drop in FIT testing for N95 at LHSC
- Electives
- Continue for residents and fellows across Canada;
- Electives out of country should be discouraged/canceled – there is significant risk of having to self-isolate in another country, and risk of additional expense including for testing. Government of Canada – ‘avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada, regardless of your vaccination status.’ (https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid). USA Center for Disease Control has issued a ‘do not travel’ warning for Canada.
- COVID Therapy
- January 8th guidelines for therapy of COVID have been posted by Ontario Science Table.
- Clinical Practice Guideline Summary: Recommended Drugs and Biologics in Adult Patients with COVID-19: https://covid19-sciencetable.ca/sciencebrief/clinical-practice-guideline-summary-recommended-drugs-and-biologics-in-adult-patients-with-covid-19-version-7-0/
- Baricitinib for Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: https://covid19-sciencetable.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Baricitinib-for-Hospitalized-Patients-with-COVID-19_published_20220108-1.pdf
- availability of monoclonal antibodies is a concern – distribution sites have been identified across the province; LHSC is a designated site.
- LHSC COVD contact algorithm
- A new algorithm has been developed by LHSC – is attached as a pdf for information. This may change (for example the school opening on January 17th may impact family contacts etc.).
- ‘If you have had a third dose and are asymptomatic (which will apply to most of our residents and fellows – we believe the 3rd dose rate is > 80%, and is also underreported at Occupational Health) then you qualify for work isolation and need a PCR test.’
- A reminder – if residents are asked to take call to cover a resident who is away for a COVID-related reason this coverage will fall under the MRRP program. The resident can be reimbursed at a rate of $50/hour for coverage. Unfortunately this funding is not available to our Internationally Sponsored Trainees.
- Outbreaks
- Inevitable…. Will have further guidance hopefully by the end of the week re: cohorting and movement into/out of outbreak units from IPAC. IPAC is aware of the disruption to patient care and learner education if cohorting is required; there is a domino effect that echoes throughout the system.
- Booster doses
- Third dose strongly recommended but is not mandatory at this time; available through hospitals on-site.
- Training implications
- We have reached out to the Royal College (Jason Frank as well as the CBD team) to ask if there will be further guidance. COVID is adversely impacting resident exposure to patients and procedural skills for many if not most programs.
- In the meantime, this is our information:
- Schulich PGME Recommendations for Assessment of Residents during COVID https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/medicine/postgraduate/future_learners/docs/Policies%20for%20Website/CBME%20Guidelines%20for%20Resident%20Assessment%20During%20COVID-19.pdf
- Royal College ‘Impact of COVID on Residency Education’
https://www.royalcollege.ca/rcsite/documents/about/covid-19-impact-residency-education-e
Upcoming events and resources for residents
Your CPSO
Wednesday January 19th 1:30-3:30pm
Zoom link: https://westernuniversity.zoom.us/j/95510607477
EDID-I, You, Me and Everyone. The Way Forward
Wednesday January 26th 3pm-5pm
Zoom Link: https://westernuniversity.zoom.us/j/96167395299
Patient Safety Webinar
Wednesday February 2nd 1:30-4:45pm (through JouleCMA)
Learn More
We are working on a digital wellness session for March, more information to follow.
The McGill Journal of Medicine is open for research articles on Quality Improvement from residents; the deadline for submission is February 1st.
Sign-up form
