Dear Re: COVID-19 update on allied health services in regional Victoria I am writing to inform you about recently updated advice provided by the Victorian Government in regard to allied health services in regional Victoria. The advice has been updated in accordance with the Directions issued by the Chief Health Officer and is as follows:
For allied health providers in metropolitan Melbourne, there is currently no change to the health services provided under lockdown restrictions. Currently, only face to face “urgent clinical care” is permitted with telehealth the preferred means of service delivery in accordance with the Authorised Provider and authorised worker list where audiologists are “authorised providers” of “authorised health services”. The Department of Health has not yet indicated when allied health providers can resume face to face routine care under the forthcoming easing of lockdown restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne. We will continue to follow this up with the Department of Health and advise you of any updates. Allied health providers should apply their discretion and determine urgency based on their clinical assessment. As a guide, urgent clinical care is direct clinical care that prevents a significant change or deterioration in functional independence which would result in an escalation of care or is required as an adjunct to other urgent medical or surgical interventions. For example, urgent clinical care is direct clinical care that:
As there is active community transmission in regional Victoria, please be mindful and take this into consideration when making appointments. Risk mitigation strategies should remain in place, such as screening patients for symptoms before they come into the clinic or practice. Please stay safe, and if there is anything we can do to assist you during this time, please don't hesitate to contact the office on 03 9940 3900 or email: info@audiology.asn.au.
Yours sincerely Dr Tony Coles CEO Audiology Australia |