Information Regarding COVID-19
The COVID-19 situation is fluid and changing on an ongoing basis. As such, guidance is shifting to keep up with the most relevant and factual information available.
Communications from Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer
The following information is provided to health care workers by Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer, regarding the expectations for regulated health professionals in BC, and also regarding preventing the spread of infection, including information regarding travel, self-isolation, and office cleaning in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic:
- PHO Letter Re Important Update for Health Professionals – May 15, 2020,
- PHO Letter Re Non-Essential Services Health Profession – March 23 2020,
- http://cnpbc.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020-03-15-COVID-19-Important-HCW-update-from-the-PHO.pdf, and
- http://cnpbc.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/Letter-for-HCW-Self-Isolating-Advice.pdf.
Additional information provided by the Office of the Provincial Health Officer about COVID-19 can be found here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics/covid-19-novel-coronavirus.
Communications from the CNPBC to Naturopathic Doctors
The following are our communications to registrants about COVID-19:
- 2020-12-22 Notice to Registrants – COVID-19 Antibody Tests
- 2020-11-20 Notice to Registrants – Update on Masks
- 2020-11-10 Notice to Registrants – Urgent Masking Update
- 2020-05-15 COVID-19 Update – Providing In-person Community Care in British Columbia During COVID-19
- 2020-05-14 COVID-19 Update – BC’s Restart Plan
- 2020-05-13 COVID-19 Update – BC’s Restart Plan
- 2020-05-08 COVID-19 Update – BC’s Restart Plan
- 2020-05-05 COVID-19 Update – Advertising
- 2020-04-22 COVID-19 Update – Expectations of regulated health professionals
- 2020-03-27 COVID-19 Update – Unproven therapies and essential services
- 2020-03-24 COVID-19 Update
- 2020-03-19 COVID-19 Update
- 2020-03-18 COVID-19 Update
- 2020-03-17 Update on COVID-19
- 2020-03-16 Update on COVID-19
- 2020-03-02 Update on novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
- 2020-01-30 Important update on new coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
BC Center for Disease Control (BCCDC)
The British Columbia Center for Disease Control (BCCDC) has provided a website for COVID-19 information: http://covid-19.bccdc.ca/. It is also working with provincial and federal partners on surveillance, diagnostic testing, and infection control measures for the COVID-19 outbreak. They have developed a page with helpful information specifically designed for health care professionals and public health partners: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-professionals/clinical-resources/covid-19-care.
Ministry of Health
- BC Ministry of Health: COVID-19
- BC Ministry of Health: March 16, 2020 Joint statement (Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry) on B.C.͛s COVID-19 response and latest updates
- BC Ministry of Health: May 8, 2020 Joint statement (Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry) on B.C.’s COVID-19 response and latest updates
Health Canada
Health Canada has created a need to know resource guide for health care professionals, which covers the spectrum of illness, transmission, epidemiological information, detecting and reporting, infection prevention and control, treatment, and guidance: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/health-professionals.html.
Public Health Agency of Canada
The Public Health Agency of Canada has provided useful information for the public pertaining to transmission, symptoms, prevention, testing, self-monitoring and self-isolation, and treatment. They have also provided useful awareness resources:
- Public Health Agency of Canada: Be prepared (COVID-19)
- Public Health Agency of Canada: Public Health Agency of Canada: How to care for a person with COVID-19 at home: Advice for caregivers
- Public Health Agency of Canada: Vulnerable populations and COVID-19
Telemedicine
We have recently received a number of queries regarding telemedicine. Specifically, some have asked whether an initial patient visit must take place in person, rather than by telemedicine.
The telemedicine standard (http://cnpbc.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/Standard-of-Practice-on-Telemedicine-March-20201.pdf) does not prohibit a naturopathic doctor seeing a patient for the first time via telemedicine.
The telemedicine standard requires that naturopathic doctors “consider the patient’s existing health status, specific health care needs, and specific circumstances, and only use telemedicine if the risks do not outweigh the potential benefits and it is in the patient’s best interest.” Naturopathic doctors are obliged to meet the standard of care in their assessment and treatment of patients.
The CNPBC reiterates the recommendation that appointments should be cancelled, postponed, or provided by telemedicine in a manner consistent with the CNPBC’s Telemedicine Standard and Code of Conduct/Code of Ethics. It is generally recommended that naturopathic doctors should not see patients for in-person visits at this time. Exceptions should be rare and confined to situations in which a patient is at risk of imminent or serious harm and alternative care is unavailable.
Additional Resources
- BC Cancer Agency: COVID-19 and Cancer Treatments – Information for Patients
- BCCDC: Frequently Asked Questions on New Coronavirus (COVID-19) for Children and Students
- BCCDC: Novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
- BC Government News (COVID-19)
- Fraser Health Authority: Coronavirus Questions – General Public
- Government of Canada: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Vancouver Coastal Health Authority: Information on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
- World Health Organization: Q&A on Coronaviruses (COVID-19)