Please note the following FOUR important immediate changes:

1. “Virtual First”

As of now, we are aiming to do the majority of appointments “virtually first”. We have lots of availability to see you. If you need to see a doctor, please book a phone appointment first and you and your doctor can decide if a face-to-face appointment is needed next.

2. DO NOT ENTER OFFICE IF YOU HAVE INFECTIOUS SYMPTOMS OR HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT COVID19 EXPOSURE
3. PLEASE do not come or bring your child to the clinic if you have any infectious symptoms: fever, extreme fatigue, muscle aches, chills, cough, runny nose, diarrhea, vomiting, new rash, etc.
4. If you are feeling sick or are worried about COVID19 exposure, please make a new **PHONE APPOINTMENT**, you will be able to speak to a doctor and they will help you decide what next steps are needed.

****If you are having trouble breathing or are extremely unwell, and cannot wait for a phone appointment, you should seek emergency health services at Lady Minto Hospital***

3. LIMITING IN-PERSON NON-ESSENTIAL VISITS, BUT STILL LOTS OF AVAILABILITY TO TALK TO YOU!
4. We are still “seeing” everyone by phone but there will be no non-essential in-person office visits at this time. Examples of non-essential visits are: well baby checks at 2/4/6/12/18mos if you have no concerns, chronic disease/check-ups if you have no concerns, meet and greets or non-urgent prescription refills. But, you can still book a phone call to review any questions you have!
5. If you are not sure if your appointment is essential or not, book a phone appointment and you can review with your doctor first.
6. WE CANNOT PROVIDE NOTES REGARDING WORK ABSENCE OR PERFORM UNNECESSARY OR INAPPROPRIATE TESTING

As per instructions from the Minister of Health and the provincial Medical Officer of Health, we will not be providing notes for work absence due to illness. Below is a printable letter you can bring to your employer instead, if necessary. There are also instructions below about what to do if you have concerns about the safety of your workplace. We also are NOT doing COVID19 swabs at GROW. If necessary, we can refer you to the specialized clinics in town that are doing them.

OTHER NOTES AND REMINDERS

• If you have recently returned from outside the Vancouver Island Health Authority, PLEASE wait 14 days before coming into the clinic.
• If you have recently returned from anywhere outside of BC, PLEASE self isolate for 14days. See our COVID19 page for instructions on how to do this.
• Social Distancing. The most effective way to contain this virus is by limiting our public interactions. We can not stress this enough. If you do not get this virus now, it means someone else at high risk who does get it can get the health care they need.
• Remember – in order to continue keeping the clinic safe for all patients, we have implemented the following policies: Bring Your Own Toys (BYOT) and Reading Material – there are none in the clinic
• Please do not bring others to your appointment, there is limited space in waiting room. If absolutely necessary, one support person will be allowed but remember this is for THEIR safety … if they have less exposure, they will stay healthy!
• Pen or Pencil – bring your own pen to record your weight.
• Please watch our websites for updates and advice.
• The symptoms of COVID-19, are similar to other respiratory illnesses and include a dry cough, fever, tiredness, diarrhea and may involve difficulty breathing. As always, if you are experiencing an emergency, for example, problems breathing, etc, please call 911.

Back to school (and work too)!  

The South Island Division of family practice has created some brilliant and easy to use flow sheets to help us all through the transition back to school and work.

We recommend printing the charts you find useful and putting them on your fridge for easy access as we enter what will without question be a difficult fall.

Before we get into the school stuff a few reminders about how the office is functioning these days:

1. We are still “virtual first” Unless you have been instructed to come in by your doctor or midwife – Book a phone appointment online first. 
2. Please cancel your appointments, especially virtual ones, if you no longer need them:  if you won’t be able to be available for your virtual appointment or attend your in-person visit please cancel. If possible try and be in a quite location where you are able to appropriately attend a virtual visit.
3. Please wear a mask in the office (just try your best with the kiddos)!
4. If you think you need a covid swab call 1-844-901-8442 (we have no other way to get you one “faster”): appointments can be arranged at Lady Minto Hospital by calling this number.
5. If you think you need to be seen but you have infectious symptoms – Call us first. If we agree that you need to be seen by a doctor then we will arrange for you to be seen in a clinic where people with any infectious symptoms (fever, cough, congestion, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) can be safely seen – this might be at the hospital.  If you are very very unwell, go to Lady Minto Hospital.

Ok, now for, …. Back to School:

1. Worried about the risk of Covid19 and returning to school?

It’s ok, many are.  It may be helpful to read through BC’s Back to School Plan.

2. Think you need a doctor’s note to be absent from school, return to school, etc.?

Please consult this resource before calling clinic: Print this and use as needed.  Share with your school or daycare if needed.  This document is supported by Public Health, BC Family Doctors, and has been shared with the BCCDC.

3. What to do this Fall if you, your child, or someone in their class/cohort/daycare has symptoms of Covid19 OR you hear that someone in your child’s class/cohort/daycare has tested positive for Covid19?

Print this out and put it on your fridge.  

When reading this, keep in mind that these are the guidelines that work the best for the vast majority.
It may be that you choose to do something different, that’s ok in some situations, if you need help, make an appointment to chat with us!  

4. What to do this Fall if someone in your house has symptoms of Covid19?

Print this out and put it on your fridge.

5. Confused about how long to self-isolate if you’ve been exposed to Covid19, have returned from travel, or have a positive Covid19 swab?

We got that covered too, you guessed it, print this out and put it on your fridge.

Remember, we are here for you! Please make a phone appointment if you have questions!
Good luck out there!

Please remember during these high stress times to be kind to each-other, this includes our clinic staff.
Please do NOT call the clinic to ask if there is covid 19 on island – this is a pandemic – presume it is in our community & act accordingly.

We are NOT able to comment on local cases. For information about local outbreaks and exposures, see the Island Health webpage: https://www.islandhealth.ca/learn-about-health/covid-19/outbreaks-and-exposures

If you are concerned you may have Covid 19 please take the self assessment tool and phone one of the below numbers if necessary.

• Take the self assessment tool at https://covid19.thrive.health
• if you HAVE SYMPTOMS of COVID-19 and need a swab call 1-844-901-8442  to book an appointment.
  • Testing is not done if you do not have symptoms.
• If you are UNWELL with respiratory symptoms, you can be assessed at Lady Minto Hospital. If it is an emergency, call 911.

STEP 1: DO NOT go to your GP or Hospital

STEP 2: SELF SCREEN @ https://covid19.thrive.health

STEP 3: based on your self screen …. ONLY if appropriate …. PHONE 811 …. or 1-844-901-8442 to book an appointment for a swab.  If you feel this is a medical emergency phone 911.

STEP 4: You may be asked to self isolate or to go to Lady Minto Hospital.

STEP 5: You may be tested for the virus – note, testing is only necessary if you are going to be admitted to hospital – you will be directed specifically on your situation, testing is only done through the hospital, NOT your GPs clinic.

NOTE: as of Sept 12th 2020 – only people with symptoms will be swabbed

The BC Ministry of Health strongly urges anyone who has symptoms – including a fever, cough, sneezing, malaise/fatigue, rhinorrhoea (runny nose), sore throat, or difficulty breathing – to self-isolate for 14 days. To protect yourself while out in public, wash your hands frequently and maintain a distance of about 2 metres from others. For more information on COVID-19, refer to HealthLink BC’s COVID-19 website.

The most import way to prevent Covid 19 is as a community to prevent spread

• WASH your hands
• Do not TOUCH your face
• Social distancing
  • Avoid public gatherings
  • Avoid routine social greetings (hand shakes, hugs, high-fives …)
• If you have travelled or were in contact with someone who has travelled consider a two week self isolation, please phone 811 for more information.
• If you have any symptoms: fever, coughs, runny nose, difficulty breathing – assume you may be infectious and please follow the steps outlined above.
• If you have travelled internationally YOU NEED to self quarantine for 14 days on return. This is MANDATORY in BC at this time. Please review document on how to self-quarantine.