COVID-19 Update
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a wide-spread impact on the patient partners, researchers, trainees, and decision makers, which SCPOR supports.
SCPOR's priority during this challenging time is the health and wellbeing of the individuals that SCPOR supports and interacts with. We recognize the urgent need to keep patient partners, researchers, trainees, students, decision makers and SCPOR staff safe. As such, we want to minimize the transmission of COVID-19 by limiting close contact with others at this time. Due to current conditions and risks associated with the COVID-19 outbreak all physical SCPOR offices are closed until further notice; however, we will continue to provide support remotely.
With the support and input of SCPOR’s Patient Partner Advisory Council, SCPOR has drafted further information for our various partners and stakeholders.
Message to Patient Partners
Patient Partners are encouraged to consider their personal circumstances and reflect on the extent that they would like to be involved in research projects. SCPOR understands that everyone will respond differently to the current circumstances and supports an individual’s decision to focus on their wellbeing during these uncertain times. We understand that some patient partners may need to take a step back from research activities during the pandemic, while others may have more time to be involved. Our main concern is your health. Please be led by your own needs at this time knowing that you have the full support of the SCPOR team.
If you are interested in being involved in COVID-19 research we will be posting opportunities that we come across to our Patient and Researcher Connection Site (P&RCS).
Message to Research Teams
In order to protect members of research teams, as well as the public, we recommend that all research teams follow the guidelines developed by their host organizations and adhere to the provincial and federal governments’ public health measures. Links to the Provincial and Federal public health measures are listed below:
Throughout this time, we expect that a substantial amount of research will continue to be conducted remotely. We request that research teams do not meet with patient partners in-person and limit all communications and collaborations with patient partners to remote correspondence.
Researchers are also asked to acknowledge that some patient partners may need to step back from research projects in order to focus on their own health and wellness while others may wish to continue with current engagement or increase their involvement from what was originally planned. We ask that researchers please take the time to check in with patient partners.
Message to Trainees
We understand that the current circumstances may complicate trainee projects. SCPOR will continue to prioritize the health and wellbeing of our trainees and patient partners. We are committed to working with you to adapt your project understanding that modes of patient engagement and research methodologies may change at this time. If your project is impacted by COVID-19, please contact SCPOR at the e-mail at the bottom of this message to discuss how we may mitigate any disruptions.
Support
We remain committed to providing services for all those that SCPOR supports. You can still contact the SCPOR team members via email, but they will all be working from home. We look forward to maintaining our usual level of support for the research community and finding ways to adapt to the needs of research teams. We will continue to share training opportunities through our usual channels, such as the SCPOR website and Twitter.
Project Timelines
SCPOR understands and appreciates the challenges being posed by COVID-19 and the implications for project timelines. We want to ensure the research teams we support have the opportunity to deliver impact through the full and successful completion of projects. As such, we will strive to be as flexible as possible, and we will communicate as soon as further information is received from the funding organizations which we work with, including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF).
Data Platform
If you are a research team currently receiving support from the Data Platform and have concerns regarding the impact COVID-19 may have on your project, please contact SCPOR via the email address listed below to discuss how we can help.
In the meantime, be safe and stay healthy.
SCPOR
scpor@usask.ca | 306-966-2550
(Please contact by e-mail when possible as staff are working remotely. )