Managing your Practice

Guidance and Information

COVID-19 Vaccine Resources – BCCDC guidance and information on vaccines for providers.

COVID-19 Vaccine – Answers for Doctors – Doctors of BC webpage provides answers to Doctors questions and FAQs for patients.

Clinic Communication

COVID-19 Poster and Signage for Healthcare Settings – BCCDC (multiple languages)

COVID-19 Patient Handouts – BCCDC – For patients being tested, self-isolating and/or monitoring for symptoms.

Pathways (log in) – Resources include email information that can be sent directly to patients about how to book vaccinations, as well as other resources about the COVID-19 vaccines.

VCH Vaccine Communication Toolkit (April 12)– [login required] – Key messages, timeline and FAQ for family physicians to support the roll-out of immunizations, including vaccine registration and booking information for eligible patients.

Vaccine Toolkit for Physicians – Doctors of BC – Support patients with vaccine roll-out, including scripts for voicemails and web sites, documents to print for patients on vaccine effectiveness and safety, office posters and key links to share with patients.

Primary Care COVID-19 Immunization Toolkit – Developed in collaboration with UBC’s Faculty of Medicine to help primary care clinics plan and support the vaccine roll-out, including links to online resources and a Primary Care in a Pandemic Podcast.

Patient Care Information

COVID-19 Vaccine Considerations – BCCDC online resource for patients with allergies, who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or who have specific health conditions including those considered clinically extremely vulnerable.

List of Conditions: Clinically Extremely Vulnerable Patient Population – [login required] Doctors of BC

Q&A: Clinically Extremely Vulnerable Patients and Vaccinations – [login required] Doctors of BC

COVID-19 Immunizer Resources

Expression of Interest – COVID-19 Immunization Clinics – To register, please add your name and availability on VCH’s Immunizer Database in order to be scheduled, and receive compensation, for the immunization clinics.

Education Recommendations for COVID-19 Immunizers – BCCDC

Temporary Fee for COVID-19 Vaccine Advice – Doctors can bill the new fee when they see a patient for an unrelated (e.g., prenatal) visit and provide advice regarding COVID-19 vaccines.

Billing in the Time of COVID-19 – BC Family Doctors

Billing Help Library – BC Family Doctors

Physician Compensation – includes PMA, fee guide and physician contracts – Doctors of BC

Billing and Audits – includes MSP information, fee guide, FAQs and who to contact – Doctors of BC

Pathways Medical Care Directory – a free online directory that helps patients access information about their family doctor, including virtual or in-person care options, and COVID updates. Doctors are encouraged to add their practice by filling out this form.

Pathways (log in) – Resources include email information that can be sent directly to patients about how to book vaccinations, as well as other resources about the COVID-19 vaccines.

Tools to Email and Text Patients

Mass Texting for Patient Communication: Overview, Benefits and Recommended Providers

Mass Texting: Detailed Comparison of Providers, Plans and Features – excel document

Vancouver Division’s Mail Merge Guide – sending emails to large groups

Virtual Health Resources and Guidance

Virtual Care and Telehealth – Doctors of BC Online Resource

Virtual Care Guides and Toolkits – Doctors of BC

Setting up Virtual Care in Your Practice – CMA
* Download the full Virtual Care Playbook

Decision-Making Tools – In-person or Virtual Care Visits – BC Family Doctors

Virtual Consultations – A Quick Guide to Assessing Patients by Video or Voice Call – MoH

Tips for COVID-19 Virtual Conversations – Ariadne Labs

Learning and Education Resources

Virtual Care Video Tutorials & Training Resources – Doctors of BC

Virtual Care Physician & MOA Webinars – Doctors of BC

Virtual Care Support Network – Doctors of BC

Resources for your Patients

Zoom Support Desk for Virtual Care Patients – 1-844-442-4433, Monday to Friday, 7:00 am- 5:00 pm. Questions, contact virtualhealth@vch.ca.

Patient Resources – Handouts, Posters, and Guides – Doctors of BC

Patient Guide: How to Navigate a Virtual Care Visit – DTO/ CMA

Public Communication for your Business

Pathways Medical Care Directory – a free online directory that helps patients access information about their family doctor, including virtual or in-person care options, and COVID updates. Doctors are encouraged to add their practice by filling out this form.

Getting Started with Google My Business for Healthcare Providers – Manage how your business appears on Google Search and Maps.

Cloud-based (VoIP) Phone Services

VoIP Phone Services – Overview and Recommended Providers Vancouver Division

VoIP Phone Services – Detailed Comparison of Pricing and Features – Vancouver Division

eFax Options and Pricing

eFax Solutions Guide (with tutorial to send prescriptions to pharmacies) –Vancouver Division

Guide to eFaxing from Home – DTO

Adding a Wet Signature

Many pharmacies and other facilities will not accept digitally signed documents. You can add your wet signature (the way you sign it on paper) to PDF and word documents.

Microsoft Word  |  Adobe Acrobat Pro

Consent and Privacy

Physician Office IT Security Guide (email and fax security, mobile device set-up and file encryption) – DTO

Platforms

Virtual Health Platforms- Overview and Pricing/ Feature Comparison

Provincial PPE Ordering Process

A reminder to physicians to place orders for PPE through the Provincial Portal. If you have questions about the Provincial PPE portal, please email health.ppe@gov.bc.ca.

PPE Current Guidance and Supply – BCCDC online resource

PPE Recommendations  (December 16) – VCH Infection Prevention and Control provides recommendations for Acute, Community and Long-Term Care.

COVID-19 Screening Tools

Infograph pathways and checklists to ensure safety of patients, health care workers and staff.

* COVID-19 Health Care Worker Self-check and Safety Checklist
* COVID-19 Entrance Screening Tool for Health Care Facilities
* COVID-19 Patient Screening Tool for Direct Care Interactions
* Point of Care Risk Assessment – includes guidance on appropriate actions and PPE

Patient Care Options

In-person or Virtual Care Visits – Decision-Making Tools – BC Family Doctors
* Beyond Essential Services in Primary Care
* Determining Clinical Appropriateness for Virtual Care Visits

Balancing Telemedicine with In-person Care – CPSBC

Exposures and Symptoms

The Physician Occupational Safety and Health (POSH) service – Intended to be a single point of contact for all COVID-19 exposures or related concerns for physicians, POSH works closely with Infection Prevention and Control, Employee Safety and Public Health. Open 8am-8pm Mon-Sat.

Guidance around Exposures and Return to Work for Health Care Workers – BCCDC
* Health Care Worker COVID-19 Exposures Risk Assessment Tool
* Health Care Worker Return to Work Decision Tree

Infection, Prevention and Control Guidance