COVID 19 INFORMATION

COVID 19 UP DATE

What we know

How does the virus spread?

What are the symptoms?

COVID 19 PLAN for Don Medical Clinic

What should you do ?

What we know

We are still learning about how this new virus spreads and the disease it causes. We know:

  • the virus causes respiratory disease that can spread from person to person

  • most people experience mild flu-like symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat and fatigue

  • some people experience severe illness and, sadly, a small proportion die

  • older people and people with underlying medical conditions seem to be more at risk of severe illness

  • vaccine is not available.

How does the virus spread?

The virus most likely spreads through:

  • close contact with an infectious person

  • contact with droplets from an infected person's cough or sneeze (if you are within a metre or very large step of an infected person)

  • touching objects or surfaces (like doorknobs, sink taps and tables) that have cough or sneeze droplets from an infected person, and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms range from mild illness to pneumonia. Some people recover easily, others may get very sick very quickly. Symptoms include fever, flu-like symptoms such as coughing, sore throat and fatigue, and shortness of breath. People with severe illness may have difficulty breathing, which is a sign of pneumonia and requires immediate medical attention.

It can take up to 14 days for symptoms to show after a person has been infected.

COVID 19 PLAN FOR DON MEDICAL CLINIC

In order to keep the business running and meet the needs of our patients Don Medical Clinic has developed protocols in alignment with national recommendations. The purpose of these guidelines is to minimse the rate at which the virus could spread througout our community and thereby reduce potentially overwhelming health services.

Ensure you limit risk by maintaining good hygiene and an appropiate distance from others. Limit your contact with others when you are unsure of the risk that they might pose. Ensure:

We are keen to not have unwell patients come into the practice unless they need to be seen by a doctor.

There are several options available to us , these include :

  • telephone/face-time appointments - that can be billed under specific Medicare item numbers for eligible patients

  • Quick clinic for those who are unwell and are low risk of COVID 19 and need to be seen by a doctor

    • these will be run daily between 4-5 pm

    • you will be asked to park at the back of the building and will be phoned by the reception staff to come when the doctor is ready to see you

    • we have a dedicated room for people to be seen in who are unwell

Definition of unwell - fever, cough , sore throat, runny nose, flu like symptoms

What should you do ?

  • If you have a prebooked appointment and are well then --> attend to the practice as per normal

  • If you have a prebooked appointment but are unwell --> please call the pracitce staff for further guidance on what you should do

  • If you have a prebooked appointment and are unwell and come into the practice --> reception staff will ask you to return to your car and a nurse or doctor will either call you or come outside to your car, and guide you as to what to do next

  • If you are unwell and think you need to see a doctor and have had no recent travel overseas or possible exposure to COVID 19 then ---> call the practice

  • If you are unwell and have returned from OS travel and/or have had exposure to COVID 19 then call

Reception staff have been instructed to ask questions about your level of risk to the practice.

We appreciate that these processes will slow things down for us and that you may not be able to see a doctor in a timely fashion. It is crucial that we take this situation seriously and start implenting steps that will keep our stafff, our patients and our commmuntiy safe and ultimately keep the practice running during this challenging period.

If you have any queries or concerns please:

  • email: reception@donmedical.com.au

  • call: 6441 5299 during business hours