| Characteristics |
Disruption in medical practice Rapid switch to virtual visits owing to the need for physical distancing Access to preventive screening tests and investigations suspended by some provincial health agencies Interruption to medical education
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Increased use of telephone and virtual visits: further development of e-consultation Resource limitations for preventive screening owing to economic effects of COVID-19 Focus on catch-up on elective procedures Education is modified
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Redefinition of role and organization of family physicians to meet the needs of patients Practice includes more focused preventive screening activities Continued resource limitations will focus type and frequency of preventive screening New education processes in place
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| Screening activities to maintain |
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Services will be done more slowly, so capacity will be less Reevaluate preventive screening guidelines and recommendations Prioritize preventive screening activities by their effectiveness Further evolution in roles of multidisciplinary health care team members to include preventive screening activities Better integration of family physicians with public health to ensure increased capacity for the “next pandemic”
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Continue developing and implementing reminders for screening guidelines, using EMRs and team members Use patient self-administered screening tests Better incorporate individual patient characteristics and preferences in determining screening need and intervals Increase use of shared decision making in preventive health care Further develop practice infrastructure to reduce the frequency of inappropriate screening
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| Practice and financial implications |
Fewer visits; most virtual, which are now paid by Medicare Procedures halted Income reduced Need to reduce overhead costs, including staff
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Increased visits but maintaining many virtual visits Rebalance mix of prevention vs acute care Limited procedures Change threshold with non–family physician specialist care Income rises
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