The COVID-19 Resource Centre: A Tool for Primary Care

Abstract

Introduction: In March 2020, the Ontario-based Centre for Effective Practice (CEP) launched an online portal that would become the CEP COVID-19 Resource Centre (CRC), one of Ontario’s most well-known and best-used sources for primary care clinical and practice guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Description: Authors will describe how key principles of librarianship drove the development and evolution of the CRC, discuss their approach to literature searching and appraisal in a time of great uncertainty and scant evidence, and outline successes and challenges. Outcomes: With over 170,500 visitors since 2020, the CRC became an invaluable tool for primary care providers in Ontario, across Canada and internationally. 89% of site visitors reported that the CRC enhanced their knowledge of COVID-19 evidence, recommendations and policies. 87% of visitors reported that the Vaccine resource directly informed their practice. Discussion: Authors discuss challenges of the rapid-response format and skills formed by the demands of the pandemic.