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Thank you to those who filled out the MDPAC COVID- 19 Psychotherapy Response Project Survey.

A total of 128 responses were received. In analyzing the results, we see that 53% of responses were from MDPAC members and 47% of responses were from non-MDPAC members but are physicians practicing psychotherapy. Also, the results show that 46% of those who responded to the survey practice psychotherapy more than part time (>20 hours/week).

For other aspects of the survey, 73% of respondents stated they use rating scales in their practice.

The top 4 scales used were as follows:

• 88% use the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale
• 85% use the Personal Health Questionnaire - 9 (PHQ-9) for assessment of depression
  52% use the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1)
• 45% use the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ)

We will be offering a webinar led by Dr. James Whyte titled Clinical Rating Scales Used in Medical Psychotherapy and Primary Care Mental Health on Tuesday May 19 from 8-9pm EDT. Watch your email for an opportunity to register. Future MDPAC initiatives may look at this issue further to see if there could be a way to capture outcomes from MDPAC members using rating scales. This might also be a way to highlight the complexity of our patients.

The effects of the pandemic on referral patterns have been mixed, with some physician psychotherapists reporting an increase and some a decrease in number of referrals. This could mean that need has gone up, but  it could also mean referral sources were struggling to adjust to a remote care model (and so not really focussed on referrals) or that they were not aware of continuing psychotherapy service availability.

We were pleased to see that 78 respondents indicated that they would be willing to take on a limited number of new patients during this pandemic crisis (remotely, of course).

As such, we have created an online survey form to collect data from anyone willing to take on one or more new patients. Note that the MDPAC office will not be involved in any form of screening or intake process, and that patients will contact you directly. Your contact and basic information will be included on a listing of medical psychotherapists who are willing to take on patients as a pandemic response, and posted on the COVID-19 Resources page of the MDPAC website. If you are interested in taking on a few new patients, please submit your information here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MDPACC19PPR

If your practice situation changes and you are no longer able to accept patients, please let Carol know and your information will be removed from the list.

Whether or not you are accepting new patients, we are asking for your help in tracking your referrals for the next few months if you are willing to do so. The anonymous information collected will be used to show the government that physicians doing psychotherapy are an essential service. The attached Patient Referral And Acceptance Tracking Form has been created for your ease of use. This form is a PDF document and we ask that you either download or print out the form, and update it regularly. Then, at the end of the month, please email the form to the MDPAC office at info@mdpac.ca or fax to 1-866-328-7974. NOTE: Your personal information will not be shared and is collected for statistical purposes only.

NOTE: If you have any questions about completing either of these forms, please contact Carol Ford at info@mdpac.ca

We thank you for taking the time to consider our request.

Be healthy and safe!

MDPAC Board of Directors

and

Coalition for Saving OHIP Funded Physician Delivered Psychotherapy