Dr Michael Daly » Must Read!

Phone Consults /Video Consults – Now Bulk Billed

michaeldaly — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 12:56:40 +0000

In response to the Covid-19 crisis, Medicare has for the time being, suspended the requirement for patients to be physically present before bulk billing is allowed. Consultations can take place via telephone (voice only) or on a multimedia basis (via Apps such as WhatsApp). This is obviously a great initiative from Medicare, but there are certain requirements. These include a documented consultation at this clinic within the previous 12 months, the diagnosis of Coronavirus infection / contact with a confirmed case (& therefore self isolating) or simply being at risk of Coronavirus due to one or more risk factors e.g.:

age 70 or OR
an underlying illness such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma or other lung disease
another cause of significant immune system impairment eg chronic disease

Please phone or email the clinic for more information!

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Coronavirus Clinical Criteria (for testing)

michaeldaly — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 14:40:06 +0000

If you have the following, please seek prompt medical attention:

Symptoms:

Fever
OR
Acute respiratory infection (for example, shortness of breath or cough) with or without fever
AND
Epidemiological criteria:
International Travel in the 14 days before onset of illness
OR
Close contact in the 14 days before illness onset with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

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Coronavirus (Covid-19) Testing Centre Locations

michaeldaly — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 14:27:11 +0000

Testing centres for coronavirus-19 have been established at the following public hospitals. Please note that testing is currently only available for patients who fit the testing criteria, namely fever OR respiratory symptoms, PLUS you must have either arrived from an overseas destination or been in contact with someone with a confirmed coronavirus infection. These criteria are detailed in another post. I am currently unable to test for coronavirus either at the clinic or on a home visit basis.

Locations of testing clinics:

The Alfred Hospital 03 9076 2000 or 1800 675 398 (DHHS COVID-19 hotline)

Monash Medical Centre, Clayton 1800 675 398 (DHHS COVID-19 hotline)

The Royal Melbourne Hospital 1800 675 398 ((DHHS COVID-19 hotline)

Austin Hospital

Box Hill Hospital 1300 342 255

Apologies if the hospital hyperlinks stop working- they are dependent on an external source.

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Coronavirus Alert

michaeldaly — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 02:00:56 +0000

*Attention all patients*

If you are suffering from cold symptoms, have a temperature in excess of normal ie greater than 37.0 degrees or have been in contact with someone from nominated Countries such as China, Italy or South Korea, please telephone the clinic before attending. The condition is highly infectious and a home based assessment is preferred to attendance at the clinic.

Unfortunately being a solo clinic, resources are not currently available to see *new patients* with Coronavirus concerns.

Please be fastidious with handwashing procedures and cough etiquette. Face masks (standard surgical masks or the N95 masks) mitigate transmission to others if worn by infected individuals, but are significantly less effective in preventing infection from contact with others.

Resources:
Victorian Department of Health (highly recommended)

Daily Update

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