Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Online Bulletin for Health Care Providers

January 14, 2021

From:
Dr. Piotr Oglaza
Medical Officer of Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health

In this Issue:

COVID-19 Reporting Form Discontinuation 
 

HPEPH no longer requires use of the COVID-19 Reporting Form by health care providers for suspect cases of COVID-19. With the use of the Ministry’s COVID-19 documentation system released in the summer of 2020, there is a streamlined process for Ontario Public Health Units to access COVID-19 test results in a timely manner.
 

HPEPH Medical Residents

HPEPH is offering a fond farewell to Dr. Lindsay Bowthorpe who completed her residency rotation with HPEPH from July 2020-January 2021. Dr. Bowthorpe was an integral part of our COVID-19 response during her time here and continuously provided valuable guidance to both HPEPH and our community partners.

This month, HPEPH is welcoming Dr. Mark McKelvie and welcoming back Dr. Ethan Toumishey from the Public Health and Preventative Medicine Program at Queen’s University who will work with HPEPH to support our ongoing pandemic response through to the spring of 2021.
 

Hastings-Quinte Paramedic Service Monitoring Initiative
 

Local paramedic services have begun rolling out a COVID-19 monitoring program in an effort to reduce hospitalizations of COVID-19 cases. The initiative involves COVID-19 cases being provided with monitoring devices that capture oxygen saturations, heart rate and blood pressure for the duration of their isolation. The case is directed to take these vital signs assessments minimum twice daily (and at their own discretion) and the readings are monitored regularly by Hastings Quinte Paramedics. If a case’s vital signs deviate from their normal range, then paramedics are notified, and are triggered to complete a phone assessment immediately with the case and subsequent home visit if indicated. The goal of the initiative is to reduce hospitalizations of COVID-19 positive cases who can be monitored within the community setting. Public health will refer consenting cases to HQPS to be enrolled in this new service.
 

COVID-19 Vaccine Update

The Hastings Prince Edward region remains in Phase One of Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, with a prioritized focus on staff and residents in long-term care homes and retirement homes. As part of Phase 1, it is anticipated that a limited supply of vaccine will begin to be administered to priority groups in the HPEPH region in mid to late January.

Vaccine Resources for Long-term Care Homes and Retirement Homes

In Phase One, long-term care and retirement homes received the following resources to support their COVID-19 vaccine administration;

• MEMO – COVID-19 Vaccine Administration
   
• COVID-19 Vaccine Screening and Consent Form
• Initial COVID-19 Immunization Readiness Checklist to Support Preparations in Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes, and

Healthcare Provider COVID-19 Vaccine Education Documents

• COVID-19 Vaccine Approval Process and Safety
• COVID-19: About Vaccines
• COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Administration
• Administration of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
• COVID-19 Vaccine Availability and Rollout
• Managing Health Care Workers with Symptoms within 48 Hours of Receiving COVID-19 Vaccine

Back to Summary

Contact Information: 

To give us your comments: etubbs@hpeph.ca

To report communicable diseases:613-966-5500 x349

To report AEFI or DOPHS: Online / Fax: 613-966-1813 or CDCFAX1@hpeph.ca

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