From: Interprofessional primary care during COVID-19: a survey of the provider perspective
Frequency (%) | Experience working in primary care during COVID-19 | |
---|---|---|
Change in Hours since Covid-19 (n = 417) | ||
Yes-Increased | 41 (9.8) | “I am working from home, and working 6–7 h/day 5 days/week, when my contract is only 3 days per week. I am on the phone almost all day every day supporting patients who are extremely anxious, depressed and scared by the COVID pandemic.” |
Yes-Decreased | 36 (8.6) | “Extremely quiet as very few actual patients in the building and staff hours on rotation.” |
No | 340 (81.5) | “I’ve been fortunate to immediately been able to work remotely at home, maintaining my hours and patient-contact.” |
Received Virtual care training (n = 387) | ||
Yes | 155 (40.1) | “There was a document formulated by a FHT chiropodist to help guide telephone visits which has been very helpful.” |
No | “No initial training in tele health therefore having to figure it out for myself.” | |
Would have liked to receive additional training (n = 376) | ||
Yes | 216 (57.4) | “It’s been a massive learning curve that I don’t personally or professionally feel prepared for.” |
Redeployed (n = 386) | ||
Yes | 79 (20.5) | “I am a screener on a Family Health Team 1 day.” “Role has been redefined to assist with the pandemic ie swabbing for disease.” |
Continuing to provide services to patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19? (n = 384) | ||
Yes | 57 (14.8) | |
Service type change since COVID-19? (n = 361) | ||
Yes | 233 (64.5) | “I have had to advocate for my role to change to be more of a check-in with vulnerable people.” |
Change in referral pathway (n = 364)? | ||
Yes | 57 (15.7) | |
Nature of Referral Pathway (n = 366) | ||
First contact (direct patient booking) | 48 (13.1) | “I have taken over managing my own referrals so do all the first contact calls, scheduling, forwarding resources, scheduling follow-ups, etc.” |
Referral from most responsible provider | 287 (78.4) | “I have no referrals because the physicians are not seeing as many people.” |
Referral from nursing or other health care provider | 9 (2.5) | |
Other | 22 (6.0) | “We are doing calls to the wait list. New referrals are being contacted within 2–4 wks for a triage call.” |
Wait times prior to Covid-19 (n = 365) | ||
Same day | 28 (7.7) | |
Less than 1 week | 81 (22.2) | |
1–2 weeks | 91 (24.9) | |
> 2–4 weeks | 71 (19.5) | |
> 4–6 weeks | 50 (13.7) | |
> 6–8 weeks | 17 (4.7) | |
> 8–10 weeks | 8 (2.2) | |
> 10–12 weeks | 19 (5.2) | |
Wait time since Covid-19 (n = 362) | ||
Same day | 73 (20.2) | “Referrals have dramatically dropped. Many patients have preferred to postpone their follow-ups until in-person appointments are available again.” “Significant reduction in referral volume as primary care physicians are seeing less patients than prior to COVID-19.” “More consults to follow-up with patients.” “Still busy and demand for services.” |
Less than 1 week | 116 (32.0) | |
1–2 weeks | 84 (23.2) | |
> 2–4 weeks | 47 (13.0) | |
> 4–6 weeks | 12 (3.3) | |
> 6–8 weeks | 7 (1.9) | |
> 8–10 weeks | 5 (1.4) | |
> 10–12 weeks | 18 (5.0) |