CSHBC has posted guidance for providing in-person community care during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
The guidance was developed collaboratively by BC Health Regulators, with expertise and direction provided by the Provincial Health Officer (PHO), the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), and WorkSafeBC.
On May 15, 2020, PHO Dr. Bonnie Henry issued an update to all regulated health professionals in BC (PDF). In the update, Dr. Henry said: “BC is now in a position to ease restrictions on health care services beginning the week of May 19, 2020.” She also stated: “Your respective regulatory colleges have developed a set of guiding principles to help you resume in-person care in both acute and community settings. Health professionals are best positioned to determine the urgency, need for, and appropriateness of in-person care for their patients and clients.”
The guidance is intended for all CSHBC registrants in community practice. Registrants employed by hospitals, health authorities, and long-term care facilities should refer to guidance provided by their employers and the PHO.
Core elements of the guidance include:
- Guiding principles and assumptions
- Considerations when determining prioritization of client care services
- Ongoing pandemic best practices
- Links to key resources on infection prevention and control, personal protective equipment (PPE), protocols for returning to operation, and other relevant topics from BCCDC, WorkSafeBC, and CSHBC
- Information on developing and posting your COVID-19 safety plan
The guidance reflects the best evidence available at this time and it will change as required to reflect updates in our understanding of COVID-19 and its transmission. Resources that are linked to in the guidance are also subject to change – CSHBC will monitor changes and update the guidance accordingly.
CSHBC registrants should regularly check the CSHBC website – particularly the Guidance for Providing In-person Community Care During COVID-19 and COVID-19 Information for Registrants pages – for updates.
The College encourages all registrants to take the time required to review all guidance documents and make the necessary adjustments to community practice to ensure safe practice. While in-person services may resume on May 19, there is no requirement to re-open by this date.
Thank you to all registrants for your patience as CSHBC, in collaboration with all BC health regulatory colleges, responds to COVID-19.