Treena Klassen, executive director Palliser Primary Care Network, talks about the measures being taken to ensure residents still receive the health care they need during the COVID-19 pandemic and period of social distancing.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
COVID-19 and social distancing requires a paradigm shift when it comes to how we visit with our family doctor and the team of health care providers in that practice.
In many cases a visit to the clinic has now become a telephone consultation, said Treena Klassen, executive director, Primary Care Network for the Palliser region.
“We absolutely know that having a regular family doctor, a regular health home that you’re connected to, that knows your history and knows you, is better for your personal health and the system as a whole,” Klassen.
The piece we have to wrap our heads around now is that it is occurring slightly different at the moment.
“It’s occurring via the telephone and other virtual means,” said Klassen. “This right now is our new normal and we need to change our mindset on how we access care.”
PCN family physician clinics are made up of some PCN employees in addition to the doctor and those they hire as staff for the medical practice.
The PCN staff have been reaching out to patients within the practice where they work. They’re making wellness telephone calls to the most vulnerable – seniors or those with multiple chronic aliments, said Klassen.
It is also important for the public to know they can still reach out to their family doctor during the pandemic and time of social distancing, said Klassen.
This can be a telephone consultation with the physician or another health care provider such as a registered nurse within the practice, she said.
Klassen says if someone is trying to manage a chronic health condition and then becomes disconnected from the health care team, there is a concern that there could be further deterioration of the illness.
If you as a patient are not sure where to go to get medical care, Klassen says ask the medical team to determine that for you.
“For the public, don’t try to figure it out by yourself. Use your health care team to help you,” said Klassen.
It starts by making that telephone call to your doctor’s office and the team will determine how best to help you.
PCN welcomes feedback from the public on the current process and what they are enjoying about it. You can provide this feedback on the PCN website.
http://palliserpcn.ca/
