Friday, 25 February 2022

It’s been a while since you’ve heard from us here at CALHN, but we wanted to let you know we’ll have a full CALHN GP link coming out soon. If there’s something you’d like to hear about – send us an email at HealthcnahsRAHGPLiaison@sa.gov.au

In the meantime, we wanted to make sure you were aware that as a GP you can now refer your COVID positive patients who need additional care to CALHN’s COVID Care Centre, based at the RAH.

About the COVID Care Centre

The COVID Care Centre (CCC) provides face-to-face care for COVID positive patients in the community who don’t need emergency or inpatient care and are not expected to require overnight admission. 

CALHN’s CCC provides

• assessment and management of patients over the age of 16 years with COVID related clinical concerns
• and adult patients incidentally COVID positive with other unrelated clinical concerns, such as other illness, minor injury, or care coordination needs.

The CAHLN CCC has access to pathology, radiology, ECGs, specialty team reviews, minor procedures, and other CAHLN Services.

It also administers Monoclonal Antibody Infusions (MAB) to people with confirmed COVID-19, which is intended to reduce the risk of severe illness.

You can read more about how the CCC is supporting patients here.

Who can be referred?

• Patients who are confirmed COVID-19 positive on PCR within 10 days of symptom onset (up to 14 days if remains symptomatic beyond 10 days)
• Patients confirmed COVID 19- positive on a RAT and clinical features and history are consistent with COVID-19 within 14 days of symptom onset. Note: if patient positive for RAT only, patient to wear goggles and mask.

Please note patients who are beyond day 14 and asymptomatic should seek care from their own GP.

Patients are not suitable for referral

• if they are not confirmed COVID-19 positive
• if their oxygen saturation < 95% on room air on talking or exertion
• if they are paediatric patients < 16 years
• for Pregnancy related conditions > 16 weeks gestation
• if they need resuscitation and/or emergency treatment
• if they have persistently abnormal vital signs PR >100, BP<100, RR>22- If not meeting parameters acceptance only via discussion with CCC medial officer.

Or if they have other concerning/complicated presentations, including:

• chest pain excluded ONLY with pre-hospital clinician concern for ischemia, embolism, other significant clinical features or medical history
• gastrointestinal bleed (melena and hematemesis)
• any alteration in CNS function (e.g. abnormal alteration in GCS, first time seizure) OR new onset severe headache. Headache without other presenting features may be accepted – All Headache referrals to be discussed with CCC Medical Officer
• complex fractures or dislocations
• Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVA), including pedestrians with injuries arising from a MVA
• highly complex mental health comorbidities (mild anxiety/depressive symptoms related to COVID/isolation acceptable for CCC)
• patients affected by drugs and/or alcohol
• patients with known behaviours of concern

How do I refer a patient who meets the criteria?

To access a face to face review for your adult patient with COVID-19 please call the CAHLN CCC duty clinician on 0401 361 968.

Please note this number is for clinicians only and is not to be provided to patients.

The CALHN CCC cannot respond to ‘walk in’ patients and all referrals are via clinical referral only.

The CAHLN CCC accepts phone referrals from GPAT, CRCT, SAAS, SA VCS, ED, Community GPs, Aboriginal Health Practitioners, Clinical Nurses and other community and hospital Specialists and Specialty Teams.

To access MAB treatment please complete the Monoclonal Antibody Infusion Application for COVID-19 Positive Patients | SA Health. A clinical criteria must be met for MAB Infusion.

Please note transport can be arranged if required.

For non-urgent enquires please contact Health.CALHNCCC@sa.gov.au.

Where is CALHN’s COVID care centre located?

CALHN’s CCC is located at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) next to the RAH ED department.

This area is a RED ZONE and access to the service is via clinical referral only. Referred patients have dedicated access to car parking and entrance is via a dedicated external entrance directly in front of car park.

CALHN’s COVID care centre opening hours

The CALHN CCC at the RAH can take referrals 7 days a week, 10am–7pm. Monday to Friday and 10am- 5pm on weekends and public holidays.

Finally, you might be interested to find out more about how CALHN has been delivering world-class care through our COVID response.

CALHN's COVID response

You might be interested to find out more about how CALHN has been delivering world-class care through our COVID response.

Central Adelaide playing significant role in response to COVID outbreaks in aged care

Central Adelaide staff have been heavily involved in responding to COVID outbreaks in aged care facilities since the borders opened.

Dr Chloe Furst, Geriatrician consultant, and nurse unit managers Mark Dallman and Helen Burvill led our clinical response teams – at one point supporting between 20 – 30 facilities over the Christmas period.

Central Adelaide clinicians pass on insights while supporting Port Augusta COVID-19 response

Central Adelaide clinicians and educators have in recent weeks headed north to Port Augusta to assist the Flinders and Upper North Local Health Network’s (FUNLHN) COVID-19 response, passing on insights and learnings from CALHN’s own pandemic experience.

Central Adelaide doctors helping virtual care service ease pressure across state’s emergency services

Central Adelaide’s Dr Jyotsna (Jo) is one of 12 physicians supporting South Australia’s Virtual Care Service (SAVCS), helping patients get care closer to home and keeping SAAS crews on the road.

Learning from the Victorian COVID-19 experience

By CALHN Medical Services Executive Director Professor Gerry O’Callaghan

It’s not often we get the opportunity to learn from our colleagues in a different environment, so it was a great privilege to be part of a contingent from the Central Area Local Health Network (CALHN) to Northern Health to learn about their COVID-19 response.

Connect with us on socials