Change Log

May 11, 2021

• Updated info on cleaning pulse oximeters, cardiovascular guidance for long COVID, rheumatology DMARDs withholding around vaccines, updated science table info on VITT

April 22, 2021

• Updates to COVID-19 Vaccine Information
• Updates to Assessment, Diagnosis and Management of COVID

April 21, 2021

• Added Recognition, Diagnosis and Management of VITT to Vaccine Adverse Reactions section of COVID-19 Vaccine Information

April 20, 2021

• Added Timing of mammogram and COVID vaccine to Cancer Screening Resumption During COVID-19 Pandemic

April 19, 2021

• Design and uability changes
• Updated info on Diagnostics

April 14, 2021

• Added infographic from Thrombosis Canada to adverse reaction section of Vaccine page

April 13, 2021

• Updated Special Populations section of COVID-19 Vaccine Information
• Updated notes in Monitoring and Follow-up, Risk Stratify Patient section of Assessment, Diagnosis and Management of COVID
• Updated hours and availability on Diagnostics

April 12, 2021

• Updated Cancer Screening Resumption page
• Rearranged content on Patient Resources

April 7, 2021

• Added information on accessing Ministry of Health pulse oximeters to Assessment, Diagnosis and Management of COVID
• Simple updates to files and content on site.

March 26, 2021

• Added Comparative Vaccine Brand Information at a glance section to COVID-19 Vaccine Information with information from the Centre for Effective Practice.

March 23, 2021

• Added AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson patient info sheets (Centre for Effective Practice) to Patient Resources and Where to Direct Patients for Information About Vaccines on COVID-19 Vaccine Information and to the Patient Resources pages
• Added PrOTCT Framework for the COVID-19 vaccine discussion (Centre for Effective Practice) to COVID-19 Vaccine Information

March 17, 2021

• Added AstraZeneca COVIShield Clotting Risk and Effectiveness Information to Where to Direct Patients for Information About Vaccines on COVID-19 Vaccine Information and to the Patient Resources pages
• Added March 12, 2021 update to COVID and OTN Billing Codes

March 12, 2021

• Updated pre-screening assessment tool and COVID-19 vaccine screening and consent form on COVID-19 Vaccine Information

March 11, 2021

• Added Vaccine Aftercare Information Sheet for Patients to COVID-19 Vaccine Information
• Updated Adverse Effects of Special Interest for COVID-19 vaccines to COVID-19 Vaccine Information
• Added FAQ: Working at the Hamilton COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics to Hamilton vaccine rollout information on COVID-19 Vaccine Information

March 10, 2021

• Added COVID-19 Clinical Guidance for Adult Patients with Rheumatic Diseases (American College of Rheumatology) to Comorbid Conditions and Concurrent Medications
• Added Hamilton vaccine rollout information and anaphylaxis information to COVID-19 Vaccine Information
• Added extra information about Hydroxychloroquine to Assessment, Diagnosis and Management of COVID

March 9, 2021

• Updated Vaccine information on pregnancy/breastfeeding

March 8, 2021

• Added vaccination services information to Billing, Coding and Virtual Care Guides

March 4, 2021

• Updated info on steroids in Management section of Assessment, Diagnosis and Management of COVID

March 3, 2021

• Added Adverse Events of Special Interest to COVID-19 Vaccine Information

March 2, 2021

• Added Guide to Completing and Transferring Electronic Medical Certificates of Death for Expected Deaths that Occur Outside a Hospital Setting (English and French versions) to Death Certification in the Community and LTC
• Added resources to COVID 19 Vaccine

February 26, 2021

• Updated Long COVID section of Assessment, Diagnosis and Management of COVID
• Added Vaccine Technique, Billing for Vaccine Clinic Shifts and Other Resources sections to COVID-19 Vaccine Information

February 19, 2021

• Updated Testing Criteria section of Diagnostic Testing
• Updated When to Discharge from Isolation section of Assessment, Diagnosis and Management of COVID
• Added patient documents to Patient Advice section of Monitoring Section of Assessment, Diagnosis and Management of COVID and Patient Resources
  • COVID-19 Symptom Timeline: Why Days 5 to 10 Are So Important When You Have Coronavirus (Georgian Bay Family Health Team).
  • COVID-19 Home Monitoring Program: Timed Position Changes Instructions (Georgian Bay Family Health Team).

February 18, 2021

• Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Information based on OCFP update

February 16, 2021

• Changed formatting on COVID-19 Vaccine Information
• Updated Diagnostic Testing
• Updated Patient Resources

February 4, 2021

• Added Evidence for Oxygenation targets to Oxygen for those whose goals of care are not congruent with admission of Assessment, Diagnosis and Management of COVID
• Added Evidence for Oxygenation targets to Oxygen Supplies section of Resources for Managing Progressive Life-limiting Conditions (COVID and non-COVID), Palliative

February 1, 2021

• Updated sections of Assessment, Diagnosis and Management of COVID
• New version of Pulse Oximeter Patient Instructions
• Added OSCAR COVID Community Ward Monitoring Record EForm

January 28, 2021

• Added Vaccine Bulletin: what you need to know about the COVID-19 vaccines to Patient Resources and COVID-19 Vaccine Information

January 22, 2021

• Added Multilingual COVID-19 Factsheets (Public Health Ontario) to Patient Resources
• Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Information with additional info on specific populations
• Updated resources on Putting On and Taking Off PPE
• Removed date from reference to ministry document on PPE: When and What to Wear
• Added additional resources to Resources for Managing Progressive Life-limiting Conditions (COVID and non-COVID), Palliative

January 13, 2021

• Updated Billing, Coding and Virtual Care Guides
• Added Pulse Oximeter Patient Instructions (ProResp) to Patient Resources
• Added Management of Persistent (> 2 weeks) COVID-19 olfactory disorder to Long COVDI section of Assessment, Diagnosis and Management of COVID

January 12, 2021

• Added Vaccination Clinic info to Billing, Coding and Virtual Care Guides

January 11, 2021

• Added to COVID-19 Vaccine Information
  • COVID-19 Vaccination Recommendations for Special Populations January 7, 2021 (Ontario Ministry of Health)

January 7, 2021

• Added to COVID-19 Vaccine Information
  • Recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines (National Advisory Committee on Immunization) with Summary Slide Deck (Dr. Robyn Harrison)
• Added to Anti-racism Resources
  • First Peoples, Second-Class Treatment: The role of racism in the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples in Canada (Wellesley Institute, Well Living House)

January 6, 2021

• Added to COVID-19 Vaccine Information
  • Canadian Rheumatology Association Position Statement on COVID-19 Vaccination
  • Thrombosis Canada Guidance on COVID-19 Vaccines and Anticoagulation
  • Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Press Release
  • SOGC Statement on COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnancy
  • COVID-19 Vaccines: Questions and Answers, January 5, 2021 (City of Hamilton Public Health)
• Added to Patient Resources
  • COVID-19 Vaccines: Questions and Answers, January 5, 2021 (City of Hamilton Public Health)

January 5, 2021

• Added COVID+ Patients Clinic Round Flow (Printable/Downloadable Summary Sheet) to Assessment, Diagnosis and Management of COVID under the Monitoring and Follow-up tab

December 22, 2020

• Added COVID-19 Vaccine: Is It the Right Choice for Me? (EBSCO Clinical Decisions) to Patient Resources

December 17, 2020

• Added COVID-19 Vaccines Q & A and Vaccines Mythbusters (Unambiguous Science) to Patient Resources

December 7, 2020

• Added  How to Care for Ambulatory Patients with Respiratory Tract Infections: A Toolkit for Using Antibiotics Wisely in the Era of COVID-19 and Virtual Care (Choosing Wisely Canada and CFPC) to Assessment, Diagnosis and Management of COVID and Respiratory Conditions
• Added How to Use a Pulse Oximeter to Patient Resources

December 1, 2020

• Re-organized and edited Assessment, Diagnosis and Management of COVID

November 23, 2020

• Updated information about Long COVID: Management of Post-Acute COVID Symptoms on Assessment, Diagnosis and Management of COVID

November 16, 2020

• Added Ontario COVID-19 Response Framework (Nov 13, 2020) to COVID: Pathways, Evidence and Practical Supports

November 11, 2020

• Added Triage assessment and referral guidelines for children under 3 years to Assessment, Diagnosis and Management of COVID

October 21, 2020

• Added Condition specific guides for modifying routine primary care schedules (in person/virtual) heading with sub-pages:
  • Overview Of Suggestions For In Person Care (New)
  • Modified Schedules For Routine Prenatal And Well Child Care
  • Modified Schedules For Routine Diabetes Care
  • Cancer Screening Resumption During COVID-19 Pandemic
• Added new resources to Flu Clinic Set-up and Vaccine Delivery
  • Drive-in Immunization Clinics Advice for providers during COVID-19 response (New South Wales Government)
  • Example of flu shot clinic proposal (B Gerritson)
  • Example of post vaccine consent (B Gerritson)

October 16, 2020

• Added Alberta Health Services Presumed/Confirmed COVID-19 Positive Primary Care Pathway to COVID Assessment & Care

October 5, 2020

• Added Storage and Handling Guidelines: Are you planning an “offsite” vaccination clinic? (from Vaccine Storage and Handling Guidelines, Government of Ontario) to Flu Clinic Set-up and Vaccine Delivery

October 2, 2020

• Added OMA COVID Clearance Attestation Form
• Updated Diagnostic Testing And Clearance Criteria and added COVID-19 Patient Screen Guidance (children in school or daycare)

September 24, 2020

• Updated Diagnostic Testing And Clearance Criteria and new screening guidance and new Hamilton testing procedure
• Added Indigenous Cultural Safety (ICS) Learning Series (webinars) to Anti-racism Resources

September 18, 2020

• Updated Ministry of Health COVID-19 Guidance: Primary Care Providers in a Community Setting to version 6 (Sept. 4, 2020) on How to Safely Provide In-office Care (MoH and OCFP Guidance). and PPE: When and What to Use
• Added OCFP summary visual infographic for the consultation room to PPE: When and What to Use
• Updated Return to School in COVID-19 with note on return to school regarding barriers to return to school
• Added Work Accommodation Risk Assessment and Return to Work with existing work accommodation content

September 17, 2020

• Added 50 Activities For The Elderly In Lockdown and Isolation (Golden Careers) to Patient Resources
• Updated Cancer Screening Resumption During COVID-19 Pandemic with info on FIT testing

September 2, 2020

• Added links to COVID case data for Hamilton and Ontario on both COVID: Pathways, Evidence and Practical Supports and Patient Resources

September 1, 2020

• Updated Return to Schools in COVID-19 with info on sick and exemption notes and COVID-19 Health Risk Framework for Work Accomodations
• Added Flu Clinic Set-up and Vaccine Delivery with three resources:
  • Guidance for influenza vaccine delivery in the presence of COVID-19
  • Flu Clinic Set-Up Quick Reference for Primary Care
  • Considerations for Planning Curbside/Drive-Through Vaccination Clinics
• Added Patient Resources
  • Helping your family prepare for return to school
  • Safe Return to School Toolkit
  • COVID-19 symptoms in comparison to the flu and the common cold
  • Video: How to Overcome a Fear of Facemasks

August 31, 2020

• Added Black Businesses in Hamilton and @blkownedhamont List of Black Owned Business in Hamont to Anti-racism Resources

August 27, 2020

• New section Return to Schools in COVID-19 with two sub-pages Ministry of Health COVID-19 Guidance: School Outbreak Management and Government of Ontario Operational Guidance on COVID-19 Management in Schools

August 25, 2020

• New section Resources for Managing Progressive Life-limiting Conditions (COVID and non-COVID), Palliative

August 20, 2020

• Updated provincial guidance documents on Diagnostic Testing and Clearance Criteria

August 19, 2020

• Added Dealing with Mask Anxiety and COVID-19 Risk Index to Patient Resources
• Added Management of Post-Acute COVID Symptoms to Assessment, Diagnosis And Management Of COVID
• Updated COVID and ACEi’s ARBs: Helpful or Harmful?

August 18, 2020

• Added BCCDC COVID-19 Language Guide to Anti-Racism Resources
• Added COVID-19 Serology section to Diagnostic Testing and Clearance Criteria

August 6, 2020

• Updated Obtaining And Donating PPE In Western Ontario (MoH /OH Provincial Pandemic Supply And HMMS Supply Chain)

July 30, 2020

• Added Community Partner Services During COVID-19 to Mental Health & Substance Use Disorders

July 16, 2020

• Added City Of Hamilton Recreation Assistance Program

July 14, 2020

• Added Liability Information For Professional Practices

July 8, 2020

• Added Cancer Screening Resumption During COVID-19 Pandemic
• Updated LCT-CARES Hamilton Infographic and LTC-CARES Referrals contact information about HHS non-urgent consultation requests

June 26, 2020

• Added additional Anti-racism Resources
• Added Dementia Friendly Communities to Community Services

June 24, 2020

• Added additional Anti-racism Resources

June 23, 2020

• Updated Sexual Assault / Domestic Violence
• Updated walk-in info for Greater Niagara Medical Imaging on Diagnostics
• Added Health Nexus resources on having a child during COVID-19 to Maternal Newborn Care Considerations, Modified Schedules for Routine Prenatal and Well Child Care and Patient Resources
  • Planning for Birth
  • Hospital Packing List and Labour Support
  • Infant Feeding
• Added PPE: Skin protection / prevention when wearing masks, respirators, goggles and face shields
• Added Anti-racism Resources

June 18, 2020

• Added Recent Ministry Documents on Reopening Retirement Homes including
  • Guidance For Mask Use In Long- Term Care Homes And Retirement Homes
  • Reopening Retirement Homes
  • COVID-19 Test Requisition
  • COVID-19 Surveillance Testing – Guidance Regarding Retirement Homes Staff And Resident Testing
  • Resuming Visits In Long-Term Care Homes
• Added note on deadline for Ontario Health West PPE Start-up Allocation (June 26, 2020)

June 15, 2020

• Updated Symptom Screening Guide on Assessment, Diagnosis and Management of COVID, How to Safely Provide In-office Care (MoH and OCFP Guidance), and Diagnostic Testing and Clearance Criteria.

June 11, 2020

• Added to LTC-CARES
  • LTC-CARES Frequently Asked Questions
  • Ethical Framework For Virtual Care In Long Term Care Facilities

June 10, 2020

• Added Hamilton Virtual Care Survey Analysis Report
• Added Sexual Assault / Domestic Violence
• Added Community Pharmacies to Service availability

June 5, 2020

• Updated structure and titles in LCT section to better reflect LTC-CARES Hamilton process
• Updated Hamilton PPE And Office COVID Related Equipment Suppliers
• Updated Obtaining And Donating PPE In Western Ontario (HMMS Supply Chain) with information from Ontario Health West on Primary Care Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Start-up Allocation

June 3, 2020

• Added Hamilton PPE And Office COVID Related Equipment Suppliers

May 28, 2020

• Added Collaboratively Creating Goals of Care (recorded webinar) to Advance Care Planning

May 27, 2020

• Added Ineffective Face Mask Bingo to Patient Resources
• Added webinars Staying Active at Home, Staying Heart Healthy at Home During COVID-19, Food and Mood: Diet and Depression, What to do During COVID-19 if You Have Diabetes (provided by the Hamilton Family Health Team)

May 25, 2020

• Updated Diagnostic Testing And Clearance Criteria with new information from Additional Direction on Testing Strategy, 24/05/2020 and Ministry of Health Guidance to Primary Care, 22/05/2020
• Updated Assessment, Diagnosis And Management Of COVID to include Additional Direction on Testing Strategy, 24/05/2020 in History section of page
• Added Wearing and disposing of masks (OCFP) to Patient Resources
• Added PPE: When And What To Use
• Updated Cleaning in Clinic Settings

May 21, 2020

• Added Physiotherapy page and Publicly Funded Physiotherapy Clinics to Patient Resources
• Added CEB Resources: Processes And Care In LTC link to navigation
• Removed errant back line numbers from update
• Added Resources for Canadians living with pain during COVID-19 (Health Canada) and Take Control Take Charge resources and webinars (Province of Ontario) to Patient Resources
• Updated Diagnostics with info on Hamilton X-Ray and Ultrasound hours

May 19, 2020

• Added Patient Resource: Mental Health Resources For Parents And Children (Sick Kids Hospital) to navigation and Patient Resources
• Added Obtaining And Donating PPE In Western Ontario (HMMS Supply Chain) to Safety and Equipment
• Removed Empowering and Protecting your Family video from Safety and Equipment
• Updated links to provincial Testing Guidance Update (V4 May 14, 2020), Reference Document for Symptoms (V4.0 May 14, 2020) and Patient Screening Guidance Document (V3.0 May 17, 2020) throughout site
  • Updated Assessment, Diagnosis And Management Of COVID

May 14, 2020

• Added Online wellness workshops for all patients in Hamilton (provided by the Hamilton Family Health Team) to Patient Resources

May 13, 2020

• Updated: Cardiology
• New Link: Regional Lung Diagnostic Assessment Program Referral Changes (Including Eforms)
• Updated: Diagnostic Testing And Clearance Criteria
• Added Ministry of Health Assessment Guideline to more info on Assessment, Diagnosis And Management Of COVID
• Updated Food and Financial Resources

May 8, 2020

New page: Cleaning In Clinic Settings added to Safety and Equipment

May 7, 2020

• Updated COVID and Routine Antipyrics Use with direction on acetominophen preference over NSAIDs
• Replaced OMA discharge document with Ministry of Health Assessment Guideline on Assessment, Diagnosis And Management Of COVID

May 5, 2020

• Updated: Assessment, Diagnosis And Management Of COVID
• Updated: Diagnostic Testing And Clearance Criteria
• New links under Billing, Coding and Virtual Care Guides
  • OMA Virtual Care Tips: How to set up virtual care in your practice
  • Ontario Ministry of Health: Guidance for In-Person vs Virtual Care updated April 25 2020
• New section: LTC Specific Pathways and Resources, including:
  • Service Availability
    • Diagnostics
    • Treatment And Therapy
    • Referrals
  • LTC-CARES Hamilton: Virtual Care LTC Flowchart
  • Access To Geriatric Psychiatry Services In Hamilton

May 4, 2020

• New page: Virtual Care: OTN Guide
• Renamed billing and code section to Billing, Coding and Virtual Care Guides

May 1, 2020

• New Patient Resources:
  • Looking After Your New Baby During COVID-19 (prepared by Tejal Patel, Rebecca Steen, and Angela Reitsma)
  • Breastfeeding Considerations for COVID-19 Probable or Positive Patients (prepared by Tejal Patel)

April 30, 2020

• Updated COVID Palliative Care Resources
• Updated Patient Resource: Stressbusting During COVID-19 Part 2: More Ways To Help You Deal With Stress

April 29, 2020

• Added a Nutrition section to the patient resources with three resources from the Primary Care Dietitians Association: Planning your Pandemic Pantry, COVID-19, Food and Supplements: Facts and Myths and How to Grocery Shop Safely During COVID-19
• Added patient resource: Working from Home — Tips and Tricks

April 27, 2020

• Added link to resource Are there tools to help assess dyspnea clinically? to the page Are there any evidence-based ways of assessing dyspnoea (breathlessness) by telephone or video?

April 25, 2020

• Added OMA guidelines on virtual pronouncements for expected deaths in the home to Death Certification in the Community and LTC

April 24, 2020

• Renamed COVID to COVID Assessment & Care

April 23, 2020

• Rearranged Hospitals And Referrals – Other Conditions into three sub-pages:
  • Pediatrics
  • Cardiology
  • Interprofessional Spine Assessment And Education Clinic
• Added two new resources to Cardiology
  • McMaster-HHS Cardiology Ambulatory Care Model Letter
  • McMaster-HHS Outpatient Cardiology and Diagnostic Testing Referral Form 

April 22, 2020

• Updated information of dfeaths in the community on Death Certification in the Community and LTC

April 21, 2020

• Added regional coroner’s phone number to COVID Palliative Care Resources
• Added link from Modified Schedules for Routine Prenatal and Well Child Care to Alternative Strategy For GDM Screening
• Added pdf version of Alternative Strategy For GDM Screening to page
• Updated Food and Financial Resources (pdf) available

April 20, 2020

• Updated information: Maternal Newborn Care Considerations
• New information: Alternative Strategy For GDM Screening
• Updated Diagnostics service availability with contact for additional providers
• Reorganized Patient Resources into categories
• New Resources patient resources for mobility and fitness:
  • Physical Activity at Home with Online Programs (prepared by Laura Doyle)
  • iamable
    • Walking Program for Beginners
    • Otago Exercise Program (Campbell AJ and Robertson MC)
    • Web-based application user guide

April 16, 2020

• New Resource: Death Certification in the Community and LTC with two attachments
  • Managing Resident Deaths in Long-Term Care During COVID-19
  • Ontario LTC Phsicians Statement on LTC Resident Death Management
• New Rosources: Community Services and Housing (from CMHA Hamilton Directory of Community Services)
• Added Interprofessional Spine Assessment and Education Clinic information to Hospitals and Referrals – other conditions
• New Resources: Back Pain with Flexion and Back Pain with Extension (from Interprofessional Spine Assessment and Education Clinic) also available on Patient Resources
• Updated example contact excel sheet on Contact and Monitoring Template for Frail Older Adults

April 15, 2020

• Changed Name of Clinical Pathways and Evidence to COVID: Pathways, Evidence and Practical Supports
• Moved COVID And ACEi’s ARBs: Helpful Or Harmful? and COVID And NSAID Use: Where’s The Harm? into COVID/Drugs And Comorbid Conditions

April 14, 2020

• Updated Assessment, Diagnosis And Management Of COVID with note on vital signs in bacterial community acquired pneumonia
• New information: Links to hours of operation and updates about Diagnostics service providers
• Updated Diagnostic Testing Criteria And Pathways with intro paragraph and documents from provincial government (Quick Reference Public Health Guidance on Testing and Clearance and full provicial testing criteria).
• New Resource: Patient Resource: Stressbusting During COVID-19 Part 2: More Ways To Help You Deal With Stress

April 13, 2020

• New category on Clinical Pathways and Evidence: COVID/Drugs And Comorbid Conditions
• New resource: Respiratory Conditions
• Split Modified Schedules for Routine Prenatal and Well Child Care from COVID/Maternal Newborn Care Considerations
• Updated COVID Palliative Care Resources

April 9, 2020

• New resource: COVID Palliative Care Resources
• Updated: COVID Advance Care Planning Toolkit now version 2.0
• New resources: added What Matters Most Conversation Guide and What Matters Most Patient Guide as supporting resources for COVID Advance Care Planning Toolkit

April 8, 2020

• Minor update: replaced prenatal and well child visit (now includes references) documents on Maternal Newborn Care Considerations
• Removed Speak-up Canada link from COVID Advance Care Planning page as it is duplicated in the Advance Care Planning Toolkit

April 7, 2020

• New resource: COVID Advance Care Planning Toolkit
• New resource: COVID-19 Employer Letter
• Updated: new hours for The Van on Managing Patients With Substance Use Disorders During COVID-19

April 3, 2020

• HFAM.ca version 2 launched