Pictured above: St. Joe's COVID Care Clinic team leads: (from left) Leah Joy Hilario, RN; Dr. Zain Chagla, Infectious Disease Physician; Devon McDonald, RN
It may seem like a lifetime ago before COVID-19 vaccines and treatments were available. But it's been just over a year. The world's collective dedication to creating effective vaccines and therapies led to the development of various medications to help reduce to burden of COVID-19. And St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton was at the forefront.
The first clinic offering treatment for those at high risk of serious outcomes from a COVID-19 infection opened in Hamilton October 18, 2021. Dr. Zain Chagla, an infectious disease physician at St. Joe's, spearheaded a team that has now provided 3,200 therapeutic sessions to patients across Ontario, for both the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.
“There were a lot of barriers to opening this clinic, but we decided to just jump right in," Dr. Chagla says.
As the first clinic to provide this service, there were no existing models or standards of care with which to begin preparing. While many providers were uneasy about knowingly allowing COVID-positive patients into hospitals, St. Joe's choreographed an entrance method to keep other patients and staff safe. Within weeks of receiving medication and deciding to open, the clinic was up and running, sometimes treating 30-40 patients a day.
What began as a pilot program is now a standard of care. This model was used to build seven additional clinics across the province. And while any care provider can now provide COVID treatment to their patients and medication can be prescribed by pharmacists, the COVID Care Clinic will continue providing critical care for the region. It is especially important for people undergoing cancer treatment or receiving transplants, as the immunosuppressing medication they take can drastically impact their outcomes.
Unsung heroes of Hamilton's COVID response providing timely access to care
Nurse Leah Joy Hilario has been working for the COVID Care Clinic since its inception. She has seen the clinic transform and support patients no matter their location.
“Our clinic enhances care for our communities," Joy says. “And not just Hamilton, but province-wide. We receive phone calls from family physicians, walk-ins or specialized clinics. They want to know how to provide these treatments so their patients do not have to travel here. Our clinic is happy to support them. If we can keep these patients out of hospital, that is one less strain on our emergency departments."
Dr. Andrew Burke, a nephrologist in Guelph was shocked to learn that one of his transplant patients had been treated less than 24 hours from the time he sent the referral.
“I was impressed to the point of being taken aback," says Dr. Burke. “My patient and I are extremely grateful for the attentive and rapid response that he received."
“Dr. Chagla and his team are saving lives and providing exceptional service to partner organizations in the community."
Equitable access is a key component of the clinic. One of the biggest hurdles facing the team early on was the stigma around being unvaccinated. “People were afraid to admit that they hadn't been vaccinated, but our clinic staff really puts patients first," says Dr. Chagla. “Not only do they have a duty to treat patients, this team is really passionate about providing evidence-based tools to everyone in our community."
Nurse Devon McDonald, who has also been at the clinic since it opened, says patients come in upset or scared that they have COVID, questioning why anyone would want to work in a setting surrounded by COVID-positive patients. “We all want to be here," he says. “It's on us as a team to keep the clinic running and providing treatment for our patients."
“We all have the same goal: to deliver an efficient health care experience to our COVID patients," says Joy. “Our team has less 'me' and more 'we.' And I think that pretty much sums up our clinic."
“In less than a year we have moved from a 1% mortality rate from COVID-19 to a less than 0.1% mortality rate because of medical science and the strength of our vaccines and treatments," says Dr. Chagla. “This has never been done in history."
Pictured above: St. Joe's COVID Care Clinic team