New ACP resources on primary care reopening and recovery available

Resuming primary care is a key priority for supporting the U.S. health care system's capacity to manage and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. ACP recently published new clinical and public policy guidance on the “Partial Resumption of Economic, Health Care and Other Activities While Mitigating COVID-19 Risk and Expanding System Capacity.”

In support of ACP's recommendations, ACP has practical, downloadable resources to help ambulatory practices safely resume care in the face of clinical uncertainty, limited evidence, and other limitations. These resources were developed in response to feedback received from ACP members and general internal medicine leaders regarding their needs and priorities for COVID-19 recovery and reopening.

Practice resources include the following:

• Innovative staffing models, with long-term planning models and strategies to ensure staff safety and address potential staff shortages;
• Workflow modifications to ensure patient and clinician safety, featuring information on scheduling considerations, maximizing the value of in-person visits, and incorporating telehealth;
• An ambulatory infection control checklist to prepare offices for reopening, which is designed to help guard the safety of patients and clinical and office staff;
• A COVID-19 testing strategy for practices, including tips for coordinating with community testing sites and testing within a practice; and
• Team-based care and flexible, adaptable leadership, including resources for effective communication and leadership practices.

Patient resources include the following:

• A downloadable communication template for practice communication to patients about reopening or resuming care;
• FAQs for patients on seeking non-COVID-19 care during the pandemic; and
• An infographic on where and when to seek non-COVID-19 care during the pandemic.

Downloadable worksheets and documents are available for each section. These and other resources can be found in “COVID-19: An ACP Physician's Guide and Resources.”