Reviewed & Updated 18/10/2023
This page outlines the protective measures for face-to-face assessments and consultations in our clinic.
SARS-CoV-2 & COVID19
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is the virus that causes the Corona Virus Disease (COVID19). For additional information about SARS-CoV-2 and COVID19, please visit the Victorian DHHS website.
Private Healthcare Facility
Our clinic is classified as a private healthcare facility, and we follow the mandates, and directions issued by Victoria's Chief Health Officer (CHO), as well as the guidelines for healthcare professionals provided by the Victorian Department of Health.
Non-COVID19 Setting
Our clinic is a non-COVID-19-patient and non-infectious setting. Our clinic building and staff are not equipped and cannot be used for COVID-19 and/or any other infectious-disease care.
We are restricted to seeing and working with people who are:
- not confirmed cases: ie have not tested positive to a validated Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) and/or a validated SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test during the past 7 days
- not suspected cases and
- not experiencing symptoms compatible with COVID.
COVID Symptoms
Please do NOT attend our clinic in person, if you have any of these symptoms, compatible with COVID (NHS, 2022):
If you have any of these symptoms, please cancel and/or postpone your appointment, by calling 5858-1757 or emailing admin@gvdc.com.au.
We may be able to offer you telehealth services, if appropriate.
Rapid Antigen Test (RAT)
Under some circumstances, our clinician may ask you to self-administer an approved Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), in the clinic, requiring a negative result onsite, prior to proceeding with a close-contact consultation or assessment.
COVID Contacts
If you are a household, social, or workplace contact of a person with COVID, please read and follow Department of Health guidelines and call us on 5858-1757 or email admin@gvdc.com.au to cancel, postpone or change your scheduled appointment.
Facemasks
The Victorian Health Department recommends that members of the public continue to wear facemasks:
Different types of masks provide different levels of protection from airborne bacteria and viruses. Wear the most protective mask you can, and make sure that it fits well and that there are no air gaps on the side.
The following face masks are recommended, with N95/P2 respirators being the best protection:
This video demonstrates how facemasks work to slow down airborne transmission.
This video explains why masks work better than we think - when more people wear masks.
This video explains why N95 respirators work particularly well.
You can find a social story for 'Wearing a Mask' here.
Protective Equipment
Our clinic is guided by Victorian Department guidelines for healthcare workers on using PPE in healthcare and community settings where COVID-19 is a potential or known risk.
Our clinic's protective equipment includes N95 facemasks, Level 1 surgical facemasks, faceshields, safety glasses, and protective screens.
In our clinic, N95 facemasks, and/or Level 1 surgical facemasks are made available to all administrative and clinical staff, as per Department of Health PPE guidelines.
Close Contact During Consultations & Assessments
In our clinic, face-to-face (f2f) assessments and consultations range from 20 minutes to 3 hrs, in small consulting rooms, with limited ventilation. Most of our consultations and assessments therefore qualify as close contacts.
If you are concerned about being in close face-to-face contact during assessments or consultations, please call or email us in advance and ask either to cancel or postpone your appointment or to make alternative arrangements for telehealth consultations where possible.
Telehealth
Please let us know if you prefer telehealth assessments and/or consultation during this stage of the pandemic.
Some assessments [eg ADOS modules] cannot be completed via telehealth.
Hand-Hygiene
Alcohol-based hand-sanitisers and soap-based handwashes are available throughout the clinic-building.
Waiting Room
Our waiting room has good ventilation [via the open backdoor]. A CO2 monitor is on display on top of the reception desk. If you feel uncomfortable with the number of people in the waiting room, please speak to our front-desk staff: you have the options of requesting and wearing a facemask, and/or waiting outside.
Consulting Rooms
Our consulting rooms are 8.2-9.5 sqm, without windows, and with poor natural ventilation. CO2 levels steadily increase during consultations/assessments because the door is closed. A medical-grade filter is operational, and the door is left open between consultations for air exchange and ventilation via the open backdoor.
Sneeze & Cough Hygiene
Please sneeze and cough into the fold of your arm.
Ventilation & CO2 Levels
Our building's ventilation is limited to the front and back doors, and our consulting rooms do not have windows.
In order to improve ventilation and air-exchange:
- the backdoor is propped open throughout the day
- consulting room doors are required to be left open between and after consultations
- air purifiers with medical-grade filters are operational in the waiting area, and in the consulting rooms, throughout the day
- we monitor CO2 levels in the waiting room, and in our consulting rooms: our aim is to maintain CO2 levels under 800 ppm - an indication of good air circulation.
Cleaning & Disinfecting
Surfaces in consulting rooms are cleaned and disinfected regularly.
Vaccination Status
Healthcare workers are likely to be exposed to, acquire and transmit vaccine-preventable diseases such as COVID-19, influenza, measles, rubella and pertussis.
Our clinic's healthcare staff are triaged into Risk Category C: <Healthcare workers whose roles do not require them to have direct physical contact with patients, clients, deceased persons or body parts, blood, body substances, infectious material or surfaces or equipment that might contain these.>
There are no vaccination mandates or requirements in place for our clinical or administration staff.
References:
20220404 Guidance-for-the-conventional-use-of-PPE-in-primary-care-and-community-settings v1.1.docx (live.com)
About COVID-19 | Coronavirus Victoria
Checklist for COVID contacts | Coronavirus Victoria
COVID-19 PPE for Private Practice Allied Health 3Feb22.pdf (coronavirus.vic.gov.au)
Face masks | Coronavirus Victoria
Primary care guidance for the response to COVID-19 risks | health.vic.gov.au
Ventilation | Coronavirus Victoria