Message about COVID-19 screening and safety measures

For doctors & NPs: Refer a patient

Firstly, we want you to know that the health of the patients, staff and families of the CReATe Fertility Centre is of utmost importance to us.

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and recommendations of the Canadian Fertility & Andrology Society (CFAS), federal, provincial and local health authorities, we are temporarily not starting any new treatment cycles including: IVF, IUI, egg or embryo freezing, donor egg, donor sperm or frozen embryo transfer cycles. We will revise this notice once we begin to start new treatment cycles again. We hope to restart this asap when it is safe to do so.

We will also be temporarily halting any non-urgent diagnostic testing such as sonohysterograms, tube tests, or office hysteroscopy. All elective surgeries booked at Sunnybrook or Women’s College Hospital have been put on hold temporarily by the hospitals.

The blood and andrology labs will remain open (Monday to Friday 7:00 am to 2:00 pm; and Saturday, Sunday, and holidays 8:00 am to 12:00 pm).

We will continue to care for our pregnant patients in the first trimester. You may come in any day during our usual cycle monitoring hours (Monday to Friday 7:00 to 11:00 am; Saturday and Sunday 8:00 to 11:00 am) for this. Some staff will also be in afternoons for more urgent situations. We will continue to supply medications and intralipid for patients as needed. Please come into the clinic Monday to Friday 7:00 am to 4:00 pm or Saturday, Sunday, and holidays 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and a nurse will assist you.

For any other testing or visits to our clinic, please contact your doctor or follow your doctor’s instructions.

We are continuing to do follow up and new patient appointments and follow-ups via virtual care and/or phone. Please read the virtual care consent prior to your visit.

We understand that this is a very frustrating time for all of us. We are here to support you. As mentioned above, we are actively planning for when the pandemic is over, and we can start active fertility treatments again. We will post periodic updates on our website as the situation evolves.

FAQs

1. What are you doing to screen patients coming to the clinic?

Starting 18 March 2020, we have been actively screening all staff and patients who arrive with questions about recent travel, COVID-19 symptoms (cough, fever, sore throat, runny nose), and contact with people with COVID-19 symptoms. We are also taking the temperature of all people arriving to our clinic. Patients who answer yes to any of the above questions will be unable to enter the clinic until a COVID-19 test is negative or they are finished quarantine. Please follow all public health recommendations regarding social distancing before and after coming to the clinic.

2. Can I come to the clinic with family members? What if I’m older? How many people can come?

If you or your family members are over age 60 and/or have a chronic illness or are immunocompromised they will not be allowed to enter the clinic at this time. If you need to, you can bring one person with you to your appointment. Your support person will go through the same screening process. We strongly advise against bringing children to the clinic during the pandemic.

3. Where can I get further information about the COVID-19 virus?

Here are some links to helpful websites with frequent updates about the pandemic:

4. How can I reach my doctor?

You can either email or call the clinic to reach your physician. Our main line is: 416-323-7727. Listen to the prompts to speak to or leave a message for the administrative assistance for each individual physician. Also, the nurses are checking emails at cyclemonitoring@createivf.com.

You may also continue to send emails to any nurse or admin person in our third-party program

5. What should I do if I’m feeling very stressed?

Our counselling team is available to see you for a virtual visit. Call or email your physician’s administrative assistant to book an appointment. The Canadian government has also set up a website with excellent resources here: https://www.canada.ca/en/government/publicservice/covid-19/covid-19-mental-health-work.html.

Also, the CDC and CAMH have excellent resources:

6. What should I do if I have other questions?

Email info@createivf.com and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Stay safe and healthy everyone!
The CReATe Staff

COVID-19 links