Interim guidance: January, 2021
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The following are interim guidelines for the use of personal protective equipment in Yukon pharmacies.
Given the current COVID-19 situation in Yukon, COVID-19 is a risk factor that you should consider for each patient evaluation.
Providers should fax in prescriptions noting their urgency. Patients who are self-isolating must not to go to pharmacies for pick-up. They should choose a non-self-isolating person to pick up their medications. They can also use the pharmacy’s delivery service.
Symptoms or exposure risks will allow providers to use the appropriate steps for each encounter. We strongly recommend using virtual health platforms for patient care, if possible.
Please use the screening questions to determine risk.
Risk factors for COVID-19
The presence of symptoms indicates a need for augmenting routine practices.
Those who have symptoms should:
- call 811;
- call the COVID Testing and Assessment Centre at 867-393-3083; or
- complete the online Yukon COVID-19 self-assessment tool.
If any 1 of the above symptoms and/or exposure risks are present, the patient should not come to the pharmacy. If there are extenuating circumstances, the patient should notify the pharmacy. Posting signs for patients to call the pharmacy could limit symptomatic patients from entering.
Injections
For those requiring an injection, it's at the discretion of the pharmacist and the ordering provider. If possible, postpone the visit until a medical provider evaluates the patient.
Injections can be given if:
- patients are no longer symptomatic;
- the self-isolation period is complete; or
- patients are referred to the health-care provider clinic to administer the injection.
If patients require urgent evaluation or treatment, follow these full guidelines.
Strep throat swabs
It's recommended that pharmacies do not offer strep throat swabs until further notice. Please refer patients to their primary care physician or the COVID Testing and Assessment Centre.
Routine practices are the infection prevention and control (IPC) “practices for use in the routine care of all patients at all times in all healthcare settings and are determined by the circumstances of the patient, the environment and the task to be performed.”
Point-of-care (POC) risk assessment
Central to these routine practices is a point-of-care (POC) risk assessment.
A POC risk assessment is performed by health-care workers to determine which IPC measures are appropriate to assure safe patient care.
It includes:
- the symptoms of the patient;
- the intended interaction; and
- the protection the health-care worker from exposure to infection (such as exposure to body fluids, respiratory secretions, sharps, etc.).
Routine practices include, but are not limited to:
- point-of-care risk assessment;
- hand hygiene (either soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer);
- aseptic technique;
- patient placement and flow;
- appropriate use of PPE ; and
- management and cleaning of the patient care environment.
Public health measures
The continuation of basic public health measures shown to reduce the risk of transmission and acquisition of COVID-19 is imperative to all interactions:
- physical or social distancing;
- hand hygiene; and
- respiratory etiquette.
Additional measures
Additional measures can be put in place to help to create a safer environment for the patient and staff. Such environmental measures and visual cues include:
- visual cues and signage at doors encouraging patients to call ahead if symptomatic;
- visual cues and signage re-enforcing good hand hygiene practices and respiratory etiquette;
- plexiglass barrier for administrative staff or screeners;
- duct tape or other visual cue indicating appropriate spacing between patients; and
- staggering scheduled appointments in order to maximize capacity for physical distancing.
Appropriate PPE for patient care based on target personnel and activity
If the patient responds no to the screening questions, continue routine practices relevant for the intended interaction.
| Target space | Target personnel | Activity/Interaction | Recommended practices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screening or triage area | Screener or administrative staff | Screening or greeting a patient, not involving direct contact |
|
| Screening or triage area patients | Patients responding no to screening questions | Being screened |
|
| Witnessed dosing of medications | Staff | Administering medication |
|
| Witnessed dosing of medications | Patients responding no to screening questions | Receiving medication |
|
| Clinical or work space | Staff | Tasks that do not involve patient contact |
|
| Waiting room | Patients responding no to screening questions | Waiting for prescriptions |
|
| Consultation room | Pharmacists or pharmacy technicians | Performing injections on patients who respond no to screening questions |
|
| Consultation room | Patients responding no to screening questions | Undergoing consultation for medications or administration of pharmaceuticals |
|
| All patient care areas: environmental services | Environmental services | Cleaning and decontamination of patient care areas |
Routine cleaning, any equipment shared between patients must be cleaned and disinfected. Find out more about cleaning and disinfecting the workplace. |
Appropriate PPE for patient care based on target personnel and activity
Follow the following recommendations for practice and PPE if your patient:
- needs an injection or medication and these treatments cannot be delayed until they have no symptoms or are no longer self-isolating, and
- it’s not possible to deliver these services in any other way.
If PPE is not available in your facility, consider referring your patient to their health-care provider if they have responded yes to screening questions.
It 's strongly recommended to have this patient come during certain hours to reduce risk to other patients. For example, scheduled as the last patient of the day.
| Target space | Target personnel | Activity/Interaction | Recommended practices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screening or triage area | Screener or administrative staff | Screening or greeting a patient, not involving direct contact |
|
| Screening or triage area | Patients responding yes to screening questions | Being screened |
|
| Witnessed dosing of medications | Staff | Administering medication |
|
| Witnessed dosing of medications | Patients responding yes to screening questions | Receiving medication for witnessed dosing |
|
| Clinical or work space | Staff | Tasks that do not involve patient contact |
|
| Waiting room | Patients responding yes to screening questions | Waiting for prescriptions pick-up and/or injections |
|
| Consultation room | Pharmacists or pharmacy technicians | Administering injectable and/or consultation to patients responding yes to screening questions |
|
| Consultation room | Patients responding yes to screening questions | Receiving an injection and/or consultation |
|
| All patient care areas | Environmental services | Cleaning and decontamination of patient care areas |
|
The following are interim guidelines for the use of personal protective equipment in Yukon pharmacies.
Given the current COVID-19 situation in Yukon, COVID-19 is a risk factor that you should consider for each patient evaluation.
Providers should fax in prescriptions noting their urgency. Patients who are self-isolating must not to go to pharmacies for pick-up. They should choose a non-self-isolating person to pick up their medications. They can also use the pharmacy’s delivery service.
Symptoms or exposure risks will allow providers to use the appropriate steps for each encounter. We strongly recommend using virtual health platforms for patient care, if possible.
Please use the screening questions to determine risk.
Risk factors for COVID-19
The presence of symptoms indicates a need for augmenting routine practices.
Those who have symptoms should:
- call 811;
- call the COVID Testing and Assessment Centre at 867-393-3083; or
- complete the online Yukon COVID-19 self-assessment tool.
If any 1 of the above symptoms and/or exposure risks are present, the patient should not come to the pharmacy. If there are extenuating circumstances, the patient should notify the pharmacy. Posting signs for patients to call the pharmacy could limit symptomatic patients from entering.
Injections
For those requiring an injection, it's at the discretion of the pharmacist and the ordering provider. If possible, postpone the visit until a medical provider evaluates the patient.
Injections can be given if:
- patients are no longer symptomatic;
- the self-isolation period is complete; or
- patients are referred to the health-care provider clinic to administer the injection.
If patients require urgent evaluation or treatment, follow these full guidelines.
Strep throat swabs
It's recommended that pharmacies do not offer strep throat swabs until further notice. Please refer patients to their primary care physician or the COVID Testing and Assessment Centre.
Routine practices are the infection prevention and control (IPC) “practices for use in the routine care of all patients at all times in all healthcare settings and are determined by the circumstances of the patient, the environment and the task to be performed.”
Point-of-care (POC) risk assessment
Central to these routine practices is a point-of-care (POC) risk assessment.
A POC risk assessment is performed by health-care workers to determine which IPC measures are appropriate to assure safe patient care.
It includes:
- the symptoms of the patient;
- the intended interaction; and
- the protection the health-care worker from exposure to infection (such as exposure to body fluids, respiratory secretions, sharps, etc.).
Routine practices include, but are not limited to:
- point-of-care risk assessment;
- hand hygiene (either soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer);
- aseptic technique;
- patient placement and flow;
- appropriate use of PPE ; and
- management and cleaning of the patient care environment.
Public health measures
The continuation of basic public health measures shown to reduce the risk of transmission and acquisition of COVID-19 is imperative to all interactions:
- physical or social distancing;
- hand hygiene; and
- respiratory etiquette.
Additional measures
Additional measures can be put in place to help to create a safer environment for the patient and staff. Such environmental measures and visual cues include:
- visual cues and signage at doors encouraging patients to call ahead if symptomatic;
- visual cues and signage re-enforcing good hand hygiene practices and respiratory etiquette;
- plexiglass barrier for administrative staff or screeners;
- duct tape or other visual cue indicating appropriate spacing between patients; and
- staggering scheduled appointments in order to maximize capacity for physical distancing.
Appropriate PPE for patient care based on target personnel and activity
If the patient responds no to the screening questions, continue routine practices relevant for the intended interaction.
| Target space | Target personnel | Activity/Interaction | Recommended practices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screening or triage area | Screener or administrative staff | Screening or greeting a patient, not involving direct contact |
|
| Screening or triage area patients | Patients responding no to screening questions | Being screened |
|
| Witnessed dosing of medications | Staff | Administering medication |
|
| Witnessed dosing of medications | Patients responding no to screening questions | Receiving medication |
|
| Clinical or work space | Staff | Tasks that do not involve patient contact |
|
| Waiting room | Patients responding no to screening questions | Waiting for prescriptions |
|
| Consultation room | Pharmacists or pharmacy technicians | Performing injections on patients who respond no to screening questions |
|
| Consultation room | Patients responding no to screening questions | Undergoing consultation for medications or administration of pharmaceuticals |
|
| All patient care areas: environmental services | Environmental services | Cleaning and decontamination of patient care areas |
Routine cleaning, any equipment shared between patients must be cleaned and disinfected. Find out more about cleaning and disinfecting the workplace. |
Appropriate PPE for patient care based on target personnel and activity
Follow the following recommendations for practice and PPE if your patient:
- needs an injection or medication and these treatments cannot be delayed until they have no symptoms or are no longer self-isolating, and
- it’s not possible to deliver these services in any other way.
If PPE is not available in your facility, consider referring your patient to their health-care provider if they have responded yes to screening questions.
It 's strongly recommended to have this patient come during certain hours to reduce risk to other patients. For example, scheduled as the last patient of the day.
| Target space | Target personnel | Activity/Interaction | Recommended practices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screening or triage area | Screener or administrative staff | Screening or greeting a patient, not involving direct contact |
|
| Screening or triage area | Patients responding yes to screening questions | Being screened |
|
| Witnessed dosing of medications | Staff | Administering medication |
|
| Witnessed dosing of medications | Patients responding yes to screening questions | Receiving medication for witnessed dosing |
|
| Clinical or work space | Staff | Tasks that do not involve patient contact |
|
| Waiting room | Patients responding yes to screening questions | Waiting for prescriptions pick-up and/or injections |
|
| Consultation room | Pharmacists or pharmacy technicians | Administering injectable and/or consultation to patients responding yes to screening questions |
|
| Consultation room | Patients responding yes to screening questions | Receiving an injection and/or consultation |
|
| All patient care areas | Environmental services | Cleaning and decontamination of patient care areas |
|