COVID-19 update August 19, 2021 A message from the Registrar Dear Colleagues,
On Monday, you received an updated and revised ACAC Pandemic Practice Direction for providing services under eased pandemic restrictions. Today's communication reviews those additions and revisions and provides context so that that each of us can increase our knowledge of the requirements and their application in our practice.
Province extending timelines for COVID-19 transition After closely monitoring COVID-19 cases in Alberta for the previous two weeks and reviewing emerging evidence from other jurisdictions, some measures that were scheduled to be eased on August 16 will remain in place for an additional six-week period (until September 27) to provide additional time for Public Health to monitor severe outcomes of COVID-19 and increase immunization rates:
Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, said “Through the pandemic, we have monitored the situation closely and adapted our response as necessary. Reviewing data from Alberta and across the globe in the past few weeks has led me to a point where I feel that a pause on the next changes is the best way forward. I deeply care about, and am committed to, the overall health of all in Alberta. This is why I base my decisions on science and my professional assessment of an ever-changing situation.”
Point of Care Risk Assessment (new) and active screening (revised) Point of Care Risk Assessment (PCRA) is the evaluation of the task (assessment, treatment, etc.), the patient (their health status), and the environment, prior to each patient interaction. The intent of the PCRA is to make the determination of what precautions may be required for the patient interaction. That determination results in actions that provide safety to the patient, practitioner, staff, and other patients in the clinic environment.
The probability that patients will exhibit COVID-19 symptoms while in your clinic will increase when COVID-19 orders are lifted in the future. As such, the decision was made to introduce the practice of PCRA to regulated members of the ACAC and how it may apply in the clinic context. Risk may be identified while actively screening patients or after a patient is in the clinic environment. If risk is identified while a patient is in the clinic environment, responding with actions that protect the chiropractor, the staff, and the other patients is essential. Please read the updated Practice Direction to build your knowledge and develop your policy for how to respond to patients that are symptomatic in your clinic environment.
Toys in the clinic environment (new) For some practitioners, toys in the clinic environment are an important part of the patient experience. Public Health has identified that shared toys are a significant vector for communicable diseases.
In order to meet the need by some practitioners to bring toys back into the clinic environment while adhering to Public Health, the ACAC has adopted a policy and procedure as part of the current Practice Direction that informs regulated members on how to safely have toys in the clinic environment. Adherence to this policy is required as part of the infection prevention and control procedures employed in the clinic environment. Please read Appendix A of the current Direction to learn, understand, and apply the policy.
In speaking with regulated members, I hear the challenges that Alberta chiropractors are dealing with. Those challenges go beyond the logistics of the pandemic response, and reflect the significant social and emotional toll that the pandemic has had on each of us. Making decisions for yourself, your staff, and your patients on the side of caution will strengthen and build trust with patients, as well as sustain the trust and leadership that you have with patients as we transition from a pandemic to the new normal.
Thank you for your continued leadership and the willingness to build safe and caring spaces to respond to the health-care needs of Albertans. If you have any questions regarding these updates, do not hesitate to reach out to me or my team.
Regards, Dr. Todd Halowski ACAC Registrar
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