scholarly journals The Role of Primary Care in a Pandemic: Reflections During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Canada

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 215013272096287
Author(s):  
Joanne Kearon ◽  
Cathy Risdon
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Surge Capacity ◽  
Hospital System ◽  
Effective Implementation ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Specific Barriers

As COVID-19 cases began to rise in Ontario, Canada, in March 2020, increasing surge capacity in hospitals and intensive care units became a large focus of preparations. As part of these preparations, primary care physicians were ready to be redeployed to the hospitals. However, due to the effective implementation of community-wide public health measures, the hospital system was not overwhelmed. As Ontario prepares now for a potential second wave of COVID-19, primary care physicians have an opportunity to consider the full breadth and depth of scope for primary care during a pandemic. From planning to surveillance to vaccination, primary care physicians are positioned to play a unique and vital role in a pandemic. Nevertheless, there are specific barriers that will need to be overcome.

Evolution, Current Structure, and Role of a Primary Care Clinical Pharmacy Service in an Integrated Managed Care Organization

2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 124-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel MF Heilmann ◽  
Stephanie M Campbell ◽  
Beverly A Kroner ◽  
Jenel R Proksel ◽  
Sarah J Billups ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Clinical Pharmacy ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Clinical Pharmacy Service ◽  
Care Organization ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Current Structure ◽  
The Impact

The impact of the declining number of primary care physicians is exacerbated by a growing elderly population in need of chronic disease management. Primary care clinical pharmacy specialists, with their unique knowledge and skill set, are well suited to address this gap. At Kaiser Permanente of Colorado (KPCO), primary care clinical pharmacy specialists have a long history of integration with medical practices and are located in close proximity to physicians, nurses, and other members of the health care team. Since 1992, Primary Care Clinical Pharmacy Services (PCCPS) has expanded from 4 to 30 full-time equivalents (FTEs) to provide services in all KPCO medical office buildings. With this growth in size, PCCPS has evolved to play a vital role in working with primary care medical teams to ensure that drug therapy is effective, safe, and affordable. In addition, PCCPS specialists provide ambulatory teaching sites for pharmacy students and pharmacy residents. There is approximately 1 specialist FTE for every 13,000 adult KPCO members and every 9 clinical FTEs of internal medicine and family medicine physicians. All clinical pharmacy specialists in the pharmacy department are required to have a PharmD degree, to complete postgraduate year 2 residencies, and, as a condition of employment, to become board certified in an applicable specialty. The evolution, current structure, and role of PCCPS at KPCO, including factors facilitating successful integration within the medical team, are highlighted. Patient and nonpatient care responsibilities are described.

Understanding the Role of Primary Care Physicians in Managing ADHD

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Power ◽  
Nathan J. Blum ◽  
Jennifer A. Mautone ◽  
Patricia H. Manz ◽  
Leslee Frye
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Primary Care Physicians

Corporal Punishment

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 792-793
Author(s):  
Den A. Trumbull ◽  
DuBose Ravenel ◽  
David Larson
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Social Policy ◽  
Violence Prevention ◽  
Corporal Punishment ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
The United States

The supplement to Pediatrics entitled "The Role of the Pediatrician in Violence Prevention" is timely, given the increasingly serious violence problem in the United States.1 Many of the supplement's recommendations are well-conceived and developed. However, the recommendation to "work toward the ultimate goal of ending corporal punishment in homes" (page 580)2 is unwarranted and counterproductive. Before one advises against a practice approved by 88% of American parents3 and supported by 67% of primary care physicians,4 there should be sufficient scientific evidence to support the proposed change in social policy.

scholarly journals The Role of the Primary-Care Physician in Treating Relapses in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 122-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah A. Morrow ◽  
Marcelo Kremenchutzky
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Care Physician ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Tertiary Care Centers ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common disabling neurologic disease with an overall prevalence in Canada of 240 in 100,000. Multiple sclerosis clinics are located at tertiary-care centers that may be difficult for a patient to access during an acute relapse. Many relapses are evaluated by primary-care physicians in private clinics or emergency departments, but these physicians' familiarity with MS is not known. Therefore, a survey was undertaken to determine the knowledge and experience of primary-care physicians regarding the diagnosis and treatment of MS relapses. A total of 1282 licensed primary-care physicians in the catchment area of the London (Ontario, Canada) Multiple Sclerosis Clinic were identified and mailed a two-page anonymous survey. A total of 237 (18.5%) responses were obtained, but only 216 (16.8%) of these respondents were still in active practice. Of these 216 physicians, only 9% reported having no MS patients in their practice, while 70% had one to five patients, 16.7% had six to ten, and 1.9% had more than ten (3.7% did not respond to this question). Corticosteroids were recognized as an MS treatment by 49.5% of the respondents, but only 43.1% identified them as a treatment for acute relapses. In addition, 31% did not know how to diagnose a relapse, and only 37% identified new signs or symptoms of neurologic dysfunction as indicating a potential relapse. Despite the high prevalence of MS in Canada, primary-care physicians require more education and support from specialists in MS care regarding the diagnosis and treatment of MS relapses.

The role of primary care physicians in managing depression

1992 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
David S. Brody ◽  
David B. Larson
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Primary Care Physicians

The role of psychiatry in the training of primary care physicians

1986 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 372-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
James J. Strain ◽  
Harold A. Pincus ◽  
Leslie H. Gise ◽  
Jeffrey L. Houpt
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Primary Care Physicians

Communication Between Primary Care Physicians and Radiation Oncologists Regarding Patients With Cancer Treated With Palliative Radiotherapy

2000 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 2902-2907 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Barnes ◽  
John Hanson ◽  
Catherine M. Neumann ◽  
Cheryl L. Nekolaichuk ◽  
Eduardo Bruera
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Palliative Radiotherapy ◽  
Patient Support ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Radiation Oncologists ◽  
Actual Content

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the satisfaction and information needs of primary care physicians (PCPs) regarding communication with radiation oncologists (ROs), with respect to patients who receive palliative radiotherapy (RT). A selected objective was to evaluate the agreement between PCPs’ expectations and the content of the RO letter sent after completion of RT. PCPs’ knowledge of the role of palliative RT and their awareness of available patient support services were also determined. METHODS: The PCPs of patients discharged from the Cross Cancer Institute after receiving palliative RT were surveyed using a mail-out questionnaire. Questions regarding communication, RT knowledge, and awareness of support services were asked. The corresponding RO letter was reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 148 PCPs were identified and were mailed questionnaires, with 114 (77%) responding. Overall, 80% (87 of 109) of PCPs found the RO letter to be useful in patient management. However, there was poor (< 53%) agreement between PCPs’ expectations and the actual content of the RO letter. Knowledge of the indications and effectiveness of palliative RT was limited, with PCPs obtaining a median score of 4 of a possible 8. Only 27% (31 of 114) of PCPs were aware of all five of the patient support services listed. CONCLUSION: Results show that although the majority of PCPs found the RO letter useful, they believed that the letter lacked important information while containing unnecessary details. Communication between PCPs and ROs needs improvement, especially considering that PCPs seem to have limited knowledge of palliative RT.

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