Interim guidance: Care of residents in long term care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic

Lignes directrices provisoires sur les soins aux résidents des établissements de soins de longue durée pendant la pandémie de COVID-19

Virtual Care Toolkit produced by Accreditation Canada

• AAGP COVID-19 Online Training. Educational modules aim to provide rich didactic content germane to the care of older adults. These modules were created by members of the AAGP Teaching and Training Committee: their collective educational experience is the foundation for the content in the modules, and for the selection of our topics. Click here for more information.
• AJGP open access COVID articles: https://www.ajgponline.org/covid19
• American Public Health Association COVID-19 Conversations
• Training and Technical Assistance Related to COVID-19 provided by Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
• AMA releases special coding advice related to COVID-19
• • o New guidance from the AMA provides special coding advice during the COVID-19 public health emergency. One resource outlines coding scenarios designed to help health care professionals apply best coding practices. The scenarios include telehealth services for all patients. Examples specifically related to COVID-19 testing include coding for when a patient: comes to the office for E/M visit, and is tested for COVID-19 during the visit; receives a telehealth visit re: COVID-19 and is directed to come to physician office or physician’s group practice site for testing; receives a virtual check-in/online visit re: COVID-19 (not related to E/M visit), and is directed to come to physician office for testing; and more. There is also a quick-reference flowchart that outlines CPT reporting for COVID-19 testing. A new web page on the AMA site also outlines CMS payment policies and regulatory flexibilities related to COVID-19. Check the AMA COVID-19 resource center to stay up to date and for additional resources.
  • Practice Guidance for COVID-19 provided by American Psychiatric Association
    

On 23 May 2020 IPA presented a novel webinar: COVID-19, social distancing and its impact on social and mental health of the elderly population.

In collaboration with INTERDEM, this unique webinar brought together international speakers to share their experiences focusing on geriatric mental health, specifically the impact of social distancing on social health and social functioning of the elderly population.

A full recording of the program is now available on this IPA web page along with links to presenter slide decks and additional video blogs (vlogs) from health care providers across the globe. 

There are now more than 500 published articles in this Coronavirus Free Access Collection compiled by IPG publisher, Cambridge Core including:

• Behavioral Health and Response for COVID-19 (published in Journal of Public Health and Disaster Medicine Preparedness)
• Years of life lost due to the psychosocial consequences of COVID19 mitigation strategies based on Swiss data (published in European Psychiatry)
• Developing a guidance resource for managing delirium in patients with Covid-19 (published in the Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine)

Accepted Manuscripts on COVID-19 and geriatric mental health now available

In response to global events, International Psychogeriatrics editors have curated a selection of accepted manuscripts online including:

• COVID-19 and Psychogeriatrics: The View from Australia
• Old Age Psychiatry Services in the UK responding to COVID-19
• The impact of COVID–19 on Mental Health in the Hispanic Caribbean Region

Since the onset of COVID-19, many physicians have had to think differently about how to deliver care. Telemedicine and virtual care options have been one way for them to stay connected with and care for patients.

According to a national poll the CMA commissioned last month, almost half the Canadians surveyed have accessed a physician using virtual care options – whether by video, phone, email or text messaging. And with a reported 91% satisfaction rate, it’s clear they’re happy with the medical advice they’re receiving.

For many patients, this is a new experience. To help ensure people who need virtual care feel comfortable and prepared for their visit, the CMA has sponsored the creation of a how-to guide. Patients will learn which medical conditions are suitable for virtual care, how to arrange a visit, what tools and information to have on hand, and more.

If you’re interested in sharing the guide with your patients, you can find it here. The CMA also has a guide for physicians on how to adapt their practice to offer virtual services.

New member resources

Our “Re-opening your practice during COVID-19” page has been updated with new clinical guidance for physicians on how to hold in-person visits safely. It includes information on:

·         COVID-19 screening

·         Conditions for resuming non-urgent health care services

·         Administrative and operational controls

·         Environmental cleaning

·         Visits with symptomatic patients

·         PPE and infection control measures

·         Updated information on PPE sourcing, by province and territory

The Regional Geriatric Program of Toronto has resources including:

 - a Communication Tip Sheet for redeployed staff

Webinar recordings on LTC orientation for redeployed staff:

- Supporting clients with dementia and responsive behaviors 

- Effective communication when supporting residents with dementia

This page offers international resources, published papers and more

List of Provincial Alzheimer Societies as well as a tip sheet for those with dementia, family and caregivers.