calgary zone primary care covid-19 adult pathway · this pathway is intended to be followed for...

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Calgary Zone Primary Care COVID-19 Adult Pathway Rapid deterioration is most common during the second week after symptom onset Quick links: Expanded details Provider resources Patient resources Risk Stratify Patient High risk: Monitor daily x 10 days or until symptoms improve/resolve Average risk: Monitor Q2 days x 7 days; self-monitor 7 more days Low risk: Consider self-monitoring only. Provide patient the self-monitoring checklist with a plan for deterioration and isolation and contact tracing information Help patient apply isolation information to their household if they live with others Updated: June 15, 2021 Page 1 of 11 Background Presumed or confirmed COVID-19 patient with identified Most Responsible Provider (MRP). Virtual appointment booked. Establish/confirm date of symptom onset Risk stratification Determine health status today. Reinforce isolation Patient reports feeling unchanged Patient reports feeling better Patient reports feeling worse Screen for red flags Flags present What support is required? EMERGENT management: Activate EMS by calling 911 URGENT < 1-hour assessment: RAAPID: 403-944-4486 URGENT < 1-hour daytime advice: Specialist LINK tele-advice SEMI-URGENT < 24-hour assessment in residence: Community Paramedic program EMS Assess, Treat & Refer (ATR) F/up every 24 hrs until stable x 14 days total If there are clinical concerns consider Specialist LINK COVID tele-advice Breathing Assessment Questionnaire If positive: Screen for red flags If negative: Continue below More info None present eReferral Advice Request Has patient screened positive for a variant of concern (VOC)? Isolation and quarantine requirements are the same for all VOC and non-VOC cases, so follow adult pathway. Please note that the separate VOC pathway has been discontinued. More info: ILI presumed, symptomatic negative From onset of symptoms: High risk: F/up daily x 10 days or until symptoms improve or resolve Average risk: F/up Q2 days x 7 days; self-monitor for additional 7 days Low risk: Consider self-monitoring only If additional non-urgent clinical questions during management, consider eReferral Advice ISOLATE for 10 days from symptom onset or until symptoms are gone, whichever is longer If symptoms persist >14 days use Specialist LINK More info Specialist LINK Red flags Self-monitoring Community Paramedics Specialist LINK Self-monitoring Pediatric testing & isolation pathway Post-COVID-19 clinics, resources Safety net flags Contact tracing RAAPID Specialist LINK EMS ATR More info For questions about isolation orders, workplace health and safety, or repeat testing, contact AHS Public Health (403-264-5615 or [email protected]) Isolation info Isolation info Does patient have any of the following? Respiratory symptoms Red flags Safety net flags Provide patient with self-monitoring checklist with plan for deterioration and isolation and contact tracing information. Help patient apply isolation info to their household if they live with others Red flags Safety net flags No Self-monitoring Contact tracing Isolation info If patient develops increased or concerning symptoms Yes Red flags Negative Positive

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Page 1: Calgary Zone Primary Care COVID-19 Adult Pathway · This pathway is intended to be followed for patients who: •Presumed or confirmed COVID positive, or •Have ILI symptoms, until

Calgary Zone Primary Care COVID-19 Adult Pathway

Rapid deterioration is most common

during the second week after

symptom onset

Quicklinks: Expanded details

Provider resources Patient resources

Risk Stratify PatientHigh risk: Monitor daily x 10 days or until symptoms improve/resolveAverage risk: Monitor Q2 days x 7 days; self-monitor 7 more daysLow risk: Consider self-monitoring only. Provide patient the self-monitoring checklist with a plan for deterioration and isolation and contact tracing informationHelp patient apply isolation information to their household if they live with others

Updated: June 15, 2021Page 1 of 11

Background

Presumed or confirmed COVID-19 patient with identified Most Responsible Provider (MRP). Virtual appointment booked. Establish/confirm date of symptom onset

Risk stratification

Determine health status today. Reinforce isolation

Patient reports feeling unchanged Patient reports feeling betterPatient reports feeling worse

Screen for red flags

Flags present

What support is required?EMERGENT management: Activate EMS by calling 911URGENT < 1-hour assessment: RAAPID: 403-944-4486URGENT < 1-hour daytime advice: Specialist LINK tele-adviceSEMI-URGENT < 24-hour assessment in residence: Community Paramedic program EMS Assess, Treat & Refer (ATR)

F/up every 24 hrs until stable x 14 days total

If there are clinical concerns consider Specialist LINK COVID tele-advice

Breathing Assessment QuestionnaireIf positive: Screen for red flagsIf negative: Continue below

More infoNone present

eReferralAdvice Request

Has patient screened positive for a variant of concern (VOC)? Isolation and quarantine requirements are the same for all VOC and non-VOC cases, so follow adult pathway. Please note that

the separate VOC pathway has been discontinued.

More info: ILI presumed,symptomatic negative

From onset of symptoms:High risk: F/up daily x 10 days or until symptoms improve or resolveAverage risk: F/up Q2 days x 7 days; self-monitor for additional 7 daysLow risk: Consider self-monitoring onlyIf additional non-urgent clinical questions during management, consider eReferral AdviceISOLATE for 10 days from symptom onset or until symptoms are gone, whichever is longerIf symptoms persist >14 days use Specialist LINK

More info

SpecialistLINK

Red flags

Self-monitoring

CommunityParamedics

Specialist LINK

Self-monitoring

Pediatric testing & isolation pathway

Post-COVID-19 clinics, resources

Safety net flags

Contact tracing

RAAPID

SpecialistLINK

EMS ATR

More info

For questions about isolation

orders, workplace health and safety, or repeat testing,

contact AHS Public Health

(403-264-5615 or [email protected])

Isolation info

Isolation info

Does patient have any of the following? Respiratory symptoms Red flags Safety net flags

Provide patient with self-monitoring checklist with plan for deterioration and isolation and contact tracing information. Help patient apply isolation info to their household if they live with others

Red flags

Safety net flags

No

Self-monitoring

Contact tracing

Isolation info

If patientdevelops

increased orconcerningsymptoms

Yes

Red flags

Negative

Positive

Page 2: Calgary Zone Primary Care COVID-19 Adult Pathway · This pathway is intended to be followed for patients who: •Presumed or confirmed COVID positive, or •Have ILI symptoms, until

Last updated: June 17, 2021 Page 2 of 11 Back to algorithm

EXPANDED DETAILS

Presumed or confirmed COVID positive patient This pathway is intended to be followed for patients who:

• Presumed or confirmed COVID positive, or

• Have ILI symptoms, until a swab result is obtained, or

• Patients with a negative swab that present with strong clinical suspicion

The false negative rate of COVID-19 swab testing is extremely low but does occur. Well executed swabbing

technique increases the sensitivity of the test. Thus, false negatives usually occur to due improper specimen

collection. It is imperative that proper swabbing technique be used Information can be found under: testing

information at www.ahs.ca/covidPHC

Likewise, if a patient’s clinical course is suggestive for COVID-19, despite a negative swab, the primary care pathway

should be followed. This is especially true in higher risk individuals where late presentation of complications is more

common and greater vigilance warranted. Regardless, all persons with ILI symptoms should isolate for a minimum of

10 days from the start of symptoms or until symptoms resolve, whichever is longer.

Variants of Concern (VoC) Variants of concern now make up the majority of cases in Alberta. Isolation and quarantine requirements (see below)

remain unchanged and are the same for all VoC and non-VoC cases.

Virtual appointment information

It is recommended to follow patients with COVID-19 symptoms in primary care, through virtual means. Information

about virtual care can be found at: https://www.albertadoctors.org/leaders-partners/ehealth/virtual-care

Establish/confirm date that symptoms first appeared

Establishing the date of symptom onset is important for establishing the release date from isolation. The duration of

isolation is a minimum of 10 days from the onset of symptoms or until symptoms resolve – whichever is longer.

Risk Stratification High Risk Average Risk Lower Risk Patients with any of the safety net flags 40-60 years old with no medical

comorbidities

Otherwise healthy adults

Patients with symptom deterioration Pregnant women No comorbidities

Any age with medical comorbidities No safety net flags

Age > 60 Age 1-39 years old with no

medical comorbidities

Safety Net Flags

• Socially isolated (Lives alone, unable to connect with others through technology, little to no social network)

• Lack of caregiver support if needed

Page 3: Calgary Zone Primary Care COVID-19 Adult Pathway · This pathway is intended to be followed for patients who: •Presumed or confirmed COVID positive, or •Have ILI symptoms, until

Last updated: June 17, 2021 Page 3 of 11 Back to algorithm

• Inability to maintain hydration (Diarrhea, vomiting, cognitive impairment, poor fluid intake)

• Food/financial insecurity

• Receive homecare support

• Challenges with health literacy or ability to understand treatment recommendations or isolation expectations.

• Unable to self-manage

Isolation and quarantine information 1. Albertans are legally required to isolate for 10 days from symptom onset or until symptoms resolve (whichever is

longer) if they:

a) Tested positive for COVID-19

b) Have core COVID-19 symptoms that are not related to a pre-existing illness or health condition (e.g. cough,

fever, shortness of breath, loss of sense of taste or smell) AND do not get tested OR are waiting for a test result

c) Children under 18 are exempt from mandatory 10-day isolation for runny nose or sore throat but should still stay

home for 24 hours or until their symptoms are gone (whichever is longer) before they go back to school or have

contact with others.

2. Albertans are legally required to quarantine for 14 days if they:

a) Return to or enter Alberta from outside Canada (unless they are participating in the International Border Testing

Pilot Program, which is not currently active: https://www.alberta.ca/international-border-pilot-project.aspx)

b) Are an unvaccinated close contact of a COVID-19 case (someone who has tested positive). The quarantine

period is 14 days from the last day of close contact, even if they test negative for COVID-19. Additional

information for close contacts, including a detailed definition can be found at

https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page17221.aspx.

If a close contact tests positive for COVID-19 or develops core symptoms, their 14-day quarantine no longer

applies, and an isolation period begins. This period is for of 10 days from the positive test date (if asymptomatic)

or from the date of symptom onset. If symptoms persist longer than 10 days, the isolation period extends until

symptoms have resolved.

If the close contact is:

• Partially vaccinated (1 dose >14 days ago, or <14 days from 2nd dose) and no symptoms: they must

quarantine for 10 days and should get tested. If the test is negative after day 7 from exposure, quarantine can

end on day 10. If they test negative before day seven, they must have another negative test to end

quarantine.

• Partially vaccinated (one dose >14 days ago or <14 days from 2nd dose) and has symptoms: They must isolate

and be tested. If they test negative before day seven, you must continue to quarantine for the full 10 days

(from exposure). If they test negative after day seven, and symptoms resolve, quarantine can end.

Isolation and quarantine requirements: https://www.alberta.ca/isolation.aspx#requirements

Household close contacts: The prevalence in VoC has changed quarantine requirements of household close

contacts. The last day of exposure for household close contacts depends on whether the case is able to isolate

adequately away from the household close contacts. The last date of exposure occurs when the case is able to

either completely remain away from others in their home (with own bathroom and bedroom), or they have moved

Page 4: Calgary Zone Primary Care COVID-19 Adult Pathway · This pathway is intended to be followed for patients who: •Presumed or confirmed COVID positive, or •Have ILI symptoms, until

Last updated: June 17, 2021 Page 4 of 11 Back to algorithm

into an isolation hotel. If the case is unable to do this, the household close contacts must quarantine for the

duration of the case’s isolation period and continue for 14 days after the last day of exposure (i.e., the last day of

isolation for the case).

3. Vaccinated or partially vaccinated Albertans: Effective Thursday, May 20, 2021, isolation and quarantine

requirements were relaxed for vaccinated Albertans who were exposed to a COVID-19 case. Fully vaccinated

Albertans, who have received both doses in a two-dose vaccine series (or one in a single dose vaccine series) at

least two weeks prior to the last exposure:

• Are no longer required to quarantine, if they are asymptomatic

• If they are symptomatic, they must isolate for 10 days, and should get tested. Isolation may end early if they test

negative.

Isolation and quarantine requirements: https://www.alberta.ca/isolation.aspx#requirements

4. Albertans are NOT legally required to isolate if they have ILI (influenza-like illness) symptoms AND test negative

for COVID-19 AND have NO known exposure to the virus, but they cannot return to school or work until ILI

symptoms resolve.

Isolation and quarantine requirements: https://www.alberta.ca/isolation.aspx#requirements

Isolation for children who attend school AHS published an online resource that will undergo regular updates as isolation requirements for school children

evolve: Guidance for Parents of Children Attending School and/or Childcare. The recommendations in this resource

align with the most current Government of Alberta isolation requirements. However, school boards may establish

additional isolation guidelines that evolve over time. All caregivers are encouraged to consult the isolation

requirements outlined by the school board that oversees their child’s school.

a) For a child who experiences fever, cough, shortness of breath, or loss of sense of smell or taste as a

symptom that is new, worsening, or not related to other known causes, refer to this algorithm

https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/ppih/if-ppih-covid-19-school-journey-a-symptoms.pdf

b) For a child who does NOT experience fever, cough, shortness of breath, or loss of sense of smell or taste but

who DOES experience chills, sore throat, painful swallowing, runny nose, congestion, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, unexplained loss of appetite, muscle or joint aches, headache, or conjunctivitis (pink eye) as a symptom that is new, worsening, or not related to other known causes, refer to this algorithm:

https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/ppih/if-ppih-covid-19-school-journey-b-symptoms.pdf

c) For a child who does NOT have COVID-19 symptoms and has been identified as a close contact of a confirmed

case of COVID-19, refer to this algorithm: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/ppih/if-ppih-covid-19-

school-journey-close-contact.pdf . If the child is immunized or partially immunized, quarantine changes in the

following ways:

d) Partially vaccinated (1 dose >14 days ago, or <14 days from 2nd dose) and no symptoms: they must quarantine

for 10 days and should get tested. If the test is negative after day 7 from exposure, quarantine can end on day

10. If they test negative before day 7, they must have another negative test to end quarantine.

e) Partially vaccinated (1 dose >14 days ago or <14 days from 2nd dose) and has symptoms: They must isolate and

be tested. If they test negative before day 7, you must continue to quarantine for the full 10 days (from

exposure). If they test negative after day 7, and symptoms resolve, quarantine can end. Isolation and quarantine

requirements: https://www.alberta.ca/isolation.aspx#requirements

Page 5: Calgary Zone Primary Care COVID-19 Adult Pathway · This pathway is intended to be followed for patients who: •Presumed or confirmed COVID positive, or •Have ILI symptoms, until

Last updated: June 17, 2021 Page 5 of 11 Back to algorithm

f) For a child who does NOT have COVID-19 symptoms, they can continue to go to school or childcare. If the child

is notified that they have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 or if the child experiences any

COVID-19 symptoms, then refer to the appropriate algorithm above.

Isolation guidance Isolation and Quarantine Information: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page17239.aspx#sick

How to care for a COVID-19 patient at home: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page17026.aspx

Handout: How to care for a COVID-19 patient at home

• English: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/ppih/if-ppih-covid-19-patient-at-home.pdf

• Arabic: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/ppih/if-ppih-covid-19-translated-patient-at-home-

arabic.pdf

• Simplified Chinese: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/ppih/if-ppih-covid-19-translated-patient-at-

home-simplified-chinese.pdf

• Traditional Chinese: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/ppih/if-ppih-covid-19-translated-patient-at-

home-traditional-chinese.pdf

• French: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/ppih/if-ppih-covid-19-translated-patient-at-home-

french.pdf

• Punjabi: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/ppih/if-ppih-covid-19-translated-patient-at-home-

punjabi.pdf

• Spanish: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/ppih/if-ppih-covid-19-translated-patient-at-home-

spanish.pdf

• Tigrinya: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/ppih/if-ppih-covid-19-translated-patient-at-home-

tigrinya.pdf

• Vietnamese: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/ppih/if-ppih-covid-19-translated-patient-at-home-

vietnamese.pdf

Management of resolved cases Studies have demonstrated prolonged detection of COVID-19 even after symptoms have resolved. However, in most

cases detection does not reflect infectious virus. Due to uncertainty regarding immunity after infection and the

possible risk of reinfection, resolved cases should take the same precautions to avoid infection as those who have

never had COVID-19. Generally, resolved cases should not be re-tested for COVID-19 within 90 days of the initial

positive test result. However, if the resolved case develops COVID-19 symptoms within 90 days, testing for other

pathogens should be considered depending on symptoms and the setting. Management should be based on

symptoms and diagnosis. The latest information on guidelines can be found here:

https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/a86d7a85-ce89-4e1c-9ec6-d1179674988f/resource/40ac3420-fd95-42ca-b838-

7ca1a1ace7eb/download/health-disease-management-guidelines-covid-19-2021-05-06.pdf

Self-monitoring information and resources At this time, patients and families should be directed to AHS for resources around self-monitoring information. This

can be found here: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page17026.aspx

For specific patient advice on how to self-manage and red flag details, please visit:

Page 6: Calgary Zone Primary Care COVID-19 Adult Pathway · This pathway is intended to be followed for patients who: •Presumed or confirmed COVID positive, or •Have ILI symptoms, until

Last updated: June 17, 2021 Page 6 of 11 Back to algorithm

https://myhealth.alberta.ca/health/pages/conditions.aspx?Hwid=custom.ab_covid_19_symptom_mgmt_001

https://myhealth.alberta.ca/health/pages/conditions.aspx?Hwid=custom.ack9673ahs

There is increasing evidence that smoking cessation may help to reduce the impact of COVID-19. Patient information

and supports can be found at https://www.albertaquits.ca/topics/smoking-vaping-covid-19.

Patients should also be counseled on advanced care planning, including: choosing an agent, communicating their

values and documenting these in a Personal Directive. Information can be found at www.conversationsmatter.ca.

Red Flags

• Severe shortness of breath at rest

• Difficulty breathing

• Pain or pressure in chest

• Cold, clammy or pale molted skin

• New onset of confusion

• Blue lips or face

• Becoming difficult to rouse

• Coughing up blood

• Reduced urine output

• Return of cough after period of improvement* may signal development of COVID pneumonia

• Return of fever after afebrile period* may signal development of COVID pneumonia

• Oxygen Saturation

o Helpful tool to indicate disease severity when available

o If previously healthy lungs or previously documented normal O2 sat – a new reading of < 92% is a red flag

o If underlying lung disease with documented low normal O2 sat at baseline – a new reading of < 90% is a red

flag

o If patient on home oxygen normally and their O2 requirements increase with COVID illness – this is a red flag

Red Flags: More information Emergent Management Call 9-1-1 if –

• Patient has impaired level of consciousness

• Patient has severe respiratory distress (documented hypoxia, breathless at

rest, unable to speak in short sentences)

• New weakness with inability to ambulate independently

Urgent < 1-hour Assessment

Call RAAPID South at 1-800-661-1700 or 403-944-4486 if:

• Patient clinically stable (see Emergent Management criteria)

• You feel the patient needs to be seen in Urgent Care or Emergency

Department to be assessed for possible admission

Urgent < 1-hour daytime advice

Use specialistlink.ca COVID-19 advice line if:

• Patient clinically stable (see Emergent Management criteria)

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Last updated: June 17, 2021 Page 7 of 11 Back to algorithm

• You are unsure of the best course of management in a deteriorating patient who

is clinically stable

• The advice you seek is NOT about public health issues like quarantine advice

and contact management (email [email protected])

Semi-Urgent < 24-hour assessment in residence

Community Paramedics program

• Consider if patient needs in home assessment of O2 sat, vitals or fluid therapy

• MAY be limited by available resources – if so, consider calling RAAPID or using

specialistlink.ca

Community palliative care paramedic program (EMS Palliative and End of Life

Care Assess, Treat and Refer)

• Utilize if patient C1 or C2

• For end of life, supportive comfort care in the home that has been discussed

and agreed to by patient/family

Breathing Assessment Questions • How is your breathing?

• Is it worse today than yesterday?

• What does your breathing prevent you from doing?

Follow-up Patients with presumed or confirmed COVID-19 MUST self-isolate for a minimum of 10 days after the onset of

symptoms or until symptoms are gone, whichever is longer. Following this period, patients are generally considered

to be able to return to activities as tolerated. Patients should still use the same precautions to avoid infection or

reinfection. For non-urgent COVID-19 questions, eReferral Advice Request is available via Alberta Netcare. This is

for non-urgent questions requiring advice within 2-5 days. More details are available in the Provider Resources

section.

For symptoms persisting longer than 14 days from onset If Public Health has discharged a patient from isolation that you feel should still be isolating, consider:

• Public Health has the legal responsibility to require citizens who are diagnosed with COVID-19 to isolate and to

release them from this requirement when they are no longer deemed at risk to spread the disease to others

• There should be alignment between the direction from Public Health and your advice to patients. When this

doesn’t happen, consider the following:

o Is there agreement between your records and Public Health identification of the date of symptom onset?

o The patient discloses medical information to you that is unavailable to Public Health (example - the presence

of ongoing symptoms which would compel you to suggest continued isolation)

o If you are unsure of whether to advise your patient to continue isolation beyond the date identified by Public

Health, you can obtain advice from Public Health at 403-264-5615.

Page 8: Calgary Zone Primary Care COVID-19 Adult Pathway · This pathway is intended to be followed for patients who: •Presumed or confirmed COVID positive, or •Have ILI symptoms, until

Last updated: June 17, 2021 Page 8 of 11 Back to algorithm

Patients should continue to be monitored until symptom remission. Isolation should continue for 10 days after

symptom onset OR until core symptoms have cleared, whichever is longer. If the patient remains symptomatic after

10 days, they should be monitored for an additional four days – a total of two weeks after symptoms started. They

should continue to isolate. Many patients experience ongoing symptoms past 14 days, such as residual cough or

fatigue. If these patients have clearly improved, these residual symptoms can likely be managed with conservative

care and reassurance. If patients have persistent, increased, or new onset of severe or worrisome symptoms such as

chest pain, dyspnea, or fever, contact Specialist LINK to discuss further.

For patients with respiratory symptoms that have persisted for more than 12 weeks after onset of illness, please refer

to a COVID-19 Follow Up Clinic. The Peter Lougheed Centre and Rockyview General Hospital COVID-19 Follow-up

Clinics evaluate people with respiratory symptoms that persist beyond 12 weeks after documented COVID-19

infection. Referrals from a health practitioner such as a family physician, other specialist physician, or nurse

practitioner can be sent to this clinic through Pulmonary Central Access and Triage by fax at 403-592-4201 or by

eReferral with indication of Post-COVID clinic. More information on this clinic and referral criteria can be found at

https://www.specialistlink.ca/files/COVID19_Resp_clinic_RGH.pdf. Patients primarily experiencing fatigue,

psychological symptoms, or neurological problems will not be assessed in this clinic but can be referred to the

appropriate specialties.

A Rehabilitation Advice Line is also available for patients and providers at 1-833-379-0563. Callers from anywhere in

Alberta can receive advice on post-COVID rehabilitation needs, such as returning to daily activities, support with

exercises/strengthening programs, and getting assistance with finding in person or virtual rehabilitation programs. For

more information: www.ahs.ca/ral

Page 9: Calgary Zone Primary Care COVID-19 Adult Pathway · This pathway is intended to be followed for patients who: •Presumed or confirmed COVID positive, or •Have ILI symptoms, until

Last updated: June 17, 2021 Page 9 of 11 Back to algorithm

BACKGROUND About this pathway Following the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a team that included specialists from Respirology and

Infectious Disease, the AHS Primary Care team, Primary Care Networks and members of the Calgary Zone

Specialist LINK task group developed this pathway to help support family physicians to care for their patients.

Authors and conflict of interest declaration

This pathway was originally developed and reviewed in April 2020. Names of participating reviewers and their conflict

of interest declarations are available on request.

Pathway review process, timelines This primary care pathway was created with up-to-date knowledge at the time it was created. It will be reviewed on a

consistent basis as the knowledge and process base evolves. If you have concerns or feedback please email

[email protected] and enter ‘COVID-19 pathway feedback’ in the subject line.

Copyright information This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-commercial-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

You are free to copy, distribute and adapt the work for non-commercial purposes, as long as you attribute the work to

Alberta Health Services and Primary Care Networks and abide by the other license terms. If you alter, transform, or

build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under the same, similar, or compatible license. The

license does not apply to content for which the Alberta Health Services is not the copyright owner.

DISCLAIMER This pathway represents evidence-based best practice but does not override the individual responsibility of health care professionals to make decisions appropriate to their patients using their own clinical judgment given their patients’ specific clinical conditions, in consultation with patients/alternate decision makers. The pathway is not a substitute for clinical judgment or advice of a qualified health care professional. It is expected that all users will seek advice of other appropriately qualified and regulated health care providers with any issues transcending their specific knowledge, scope of regulated practice or professional competence.

Page 10: Calgary Zone Primary Care COVID-19 Adult Pathway · This pathway is intended to be followed for patients who: •Presumed or confirmed COVID positive, or •Have ILI symptoms, until

Last updated: June 17, 2021 Page 10 of 11 Back to algorithm

PROVIDER RESOURCES Advice options

• For RAAPID South, call 1-800-661-1700 or 403-944-4486. Visit

https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/info/Page13345.aspx for more details.

Non-urgent advice is available to support family physicians.

• In the Calgary Zone, specialistlink.ca connects family physicians and specialists in real time via a tele-advice

line. COVID-19 tele-advice is available via the Infectious Disease service and is for patient-related questions

family physicians may have when managing patients with presumed or confirmed COVID-19 infection. This could

include testing, infection prevention and control treatment. Family physicians can request this service at

specialistlink.ca (hover over ‘COVID’ before clicking on ‘Infectious Disease’) or by calling 403-910-2551 (press 1,

6 to reach the COVID-19 Infectious Disease line). The service is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with some

exceptions), Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays). Calls are returned within one hour. There is not

currently a COVID-19 Pediatric Infectious Disease service available for patients aged under 18. Family

physicians and nurse practitioners who need to speak to a pediatric infectious disease specialist can instead call

the Alberta Children’s Hospital switchboard at 403-955-7211 and ask for the on-call specialist.

• Advice is available in the Calgary Zone via Alberta Netcare eReferral Advice Request (responses are received

within five calendar days). This is for non-urgent questions requiring advice within two to five days. Go to

www.albertanetcare.ca/eReferral.htm for instructions on how to submit a request. For training support, email

[email protected] or call 1-855-733-3755 (Monday to Friday). For other enquiries, email

[email protected] or call 1-888-733-3755.

Other resources

Greenhalgh Trisha, Koh Gerald Choon Huat,

Car Josip. Covid-19: a remote assessment in

primary care BMJ 2020; 368 :m1182

https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/368/bmj.m1182.full.pdf

Information for Primary Care Providers: novel

coronavirus (COVID-19) https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page16956.aspx

Specialist LINK COVID-19 Resources https://www.specialistlink.ca/covid19/covid19-resources.cfm

Oxford COVID-19 Evidence Service Team

Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health

Sciences University of Oxford: How should we

assess dyspnea (breathlessness) by

telephone or video?

https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/are-there-any-evidence-based-ways-of-

assessing-dyspnoea-breathlessness-by-telephone-or-video/

Advanced care planning https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/info/Page9099.aspx

Smoking cessation: healthcare provider https://healthcareproviders.albertaquits.ca/resources/covid-19

Post-COVID-19 Respiratory Clinics https://www.specialistlink.ca/files/COVID19_Resp_clinic_RGH.pdf

Page 11: Calgary Zone Primary Care COVID-19 Adult Pathway · This pathway is intended to be followed for patients who: •Presumed or confirmed COVID positive, or •Have ILI symptoms, until

Last updated: June 17, 2021 Page 11 of 11 Back to algorithm

PATIENT RESOURCES Information for Albertans: COVID-19 https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page16997.aspx

COVID-19 info for Albertans

https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-

albertans.aspx?utm_source=google&utm_medium=sem&utm_campaig

n=Covid19&utm_term=beinformed&utm_content=v7&gclid=EAIaIQobC

hMI-obwtuPK6AIVeyCtBh1ijAQUEAAYASAAEgLsQPD_BwE

How to manage symptoms

https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Alberta/Pages/How-to-manage-

symptoms.aspx

Smoking cessation https://www.albertaquits.ca/topics/smoking-vaping-covid-19

Advanced care planning Conversationsmatter.ca

AHS resources for self-monitoring information https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page16997.aspx

Recovery after COVID-19 https://www.specialistlink.ca/files/if-ppih-covid-19-support-recovery-

rehabilitation-after-covid-19.pdf

Getting healthy after COVID-19 https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page17397.aspx

Information and resources to help you recover

from COVID-19 https://myhealth.alberta.ca/HealthTopics/After-COVID

Alberta International Medical Graduates

Association. Various COVID 19 Guidance in

multiple languages

https://aimga.ca/covid-19/