Weekly COVID-19 update April 8, 2021 A message from the Registrar Dear Colleagues,
As you know, the Government has informed Albertans that we are officially in a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the province has reverted back to Step 1 of the Public Health measures. Public Health is most concerned with the rapid increase of COVID-19 variants cases. Premier Kenney, Minister Shandro, and Dr. Hinshaw have all highlighted the importance of vaccinations to Alberta’s path forward in the fight against COVID-19 and the removal of Public Health restrictions.
The ACAC continues to receive inquiries from regulated members asking about timing of vaccinations for chiropractors and their staff. Phase 2C is when health-care workers and their staff become eligible to receive the vaccine. The ACAC has a meeting with Alberta Health regarding Phase 2C of the vaccine rollout in the coming days. We will advise all members as soon as the vaccine timeline is known.
We know the duration and strain of the COVID-19 pandemic is challenging our endurance as a society and as health-care professionals. When we returned to practice last May, Alberta chiropractors were presented with new practice logistics, including: screening patients for COVID-19, required infection prevention and control measures, the use of personal protective equipment, obsessive hand hygiene, and physical distancing. This is not how any of us thought we would still be practicing a year later, nevertheless, thank you for diligence and leadership during the pandemic.
With the recent surge into a third wave, we are hearing reports of a shift in Public Health decision-making regarding close contacts. This shift is reflective of the uncertainty of the variants and their potential to be more effective at spreading relative to the original COVID-19 virus. Considering the recent surge in infections, and with feedback from members and the public, today’s communication revisits an essential tool in the ACAC COVID-19 Pandemic Practice Directive—patient screening. There are reports of chiropractors deviating from the required questions to ones that have made it easier for them to screen.
Best Regards, Dr. Todd Halowski ACAC Registrar
Patient screening Chiropractors must assess and screen patients for symptoms of COVID-19 as per the Public Health requirements. Patients exhibiting signs and/or symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should not present for clinical services during the pandemic.
The ACAC COVID-19 Pandemic Practice Directive requires the screening questions be asked at the time of booking and again in-person at the time of the patient’s visit to the clinic.
The format you choose to ask patients the required screening questions is at your discretion—such as electronically, verbally, or in writing. How to record the screening questions has been covered in multiple prior COVID-19 communications.
People who accompany patients, such as parents, caregivers, or companions must also be screened with the same questions as the patient.
Signage indicating screening criteria should be posted in a location that is visible before entering the clinic.
The screening questions 1. Do you have current symptoms of COVID-19, such as:
2. Have you traveled internationally within the last 14 days? 3. Have you had unprotected close contact with individuals who have a confirmed or presumptive diagnosis of COVID-19 (e.g. individuals exposed without appropriate PPE in use)?
What is happening in clinics? There are reports that some chiropractors, and their staff, have devolved from asking the required specific questions to using verbal questions such as:
These are not the screening questions.
When we, or our staff, deviate from these questions as indicated above, we are not adequately screening patients, which may result in introducing unnecessary risk for exposure to COVID-19 into our environment. When we ask general questions like the ones above, we are relying on the patient's interpretation of any symptoms they are feeling. The specific COVID-19 screening questions outlined in the Pandemic Practice Directive are much more precise in determining if the patient is experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms.
This is a great time to review the screening practices in your offices and ensure that you are providing the greatest level of protection to yourselves, your staff, and other patients. Despite the challenge of COVID-19 on our endurance, consistency with the Pandemic Practice Directive requirements and recommendations will provide the public and yourself the greatest level of protection.
This weekly, Thursday morning COVID-19 update provides non-urgent, yet important, information and answers questions posed by members as part of the ACAC’s ongoing efforts to keep members informed about public health responses to the pandemic. If you have questions related to policy, procedures, control measures, safety, or any other topic pertaining to effectively responding to COVID-19 in your practice, please send them to registrar@albertachiro.com.
The next update will be April 15, 2021.
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