Guide

COVID-19: resources for general practices

The AMA has compiled a list of resources that general practices may find useful to help manage during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19: resources for general practices 

The AMA has compiled a list of resources that general practices may find useful to help manage during the COVID-19 pandemic.  


In this section:


Providing Telehealth services 

All doctors and many other health providers can now provide services via telehealth. These services may be provided by videoconference or telephone. The Department of Health has advised that there is no preferred platform, however, free versions may not meet security and privacy laws. Practices are advised to ensure their chosen telecommunications solution meets their clinical requirements and satisfies privacy laws. 

Telephone triage flowchart (SA Department of Health and Wellbeing) 

Temporary COVID MBS Items (MBS Online) 

Getting started with telehealth (Australasian Telehealth Society, ACRRM) 

Technology resources for COVID-19 (Pulse IT magazine) 

Quick Guides for telehealth (University of Queensland) 


For your regular practice 

Many practices have reported that patients are still avoiding the notices and warnings to inform practice staff that they have COVID-19 symptoms. The AMA advice is that your processes should now ensure that a 1.5-metre gap is maintained between patients and practice staff, including GPs, until the patient has informed the GP of their reason for attendance. This will allow practices to reserve PPE for when it is necessary and avoid potential infections from patients who have ignored the advice. 

AMA COVIDsafe Practice Guide

COVID-19 practice checklist (WA Primary Health Alliance) 

National Clinical Guidelines for COVID-19 (National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce) 

Infection control guide for patients with suspected COVID-19 presenting in practice or ED (SA Department of Health and Wellbeing) 

PPE usage recommendations for COVID-19 (Department of Health) 

How to put on PPE (CDC) 

Conservation of PPE (WA Department of Health) 

Infection Prevention and Control Signage (ACSQHC)  

RACGP Pandemic Influenza Guide Part 1Part 2Part 3 (RACGP) 

Poster – how to avoid spreading COVID-19 (healthdirect) 

Poster – Cover your cough or sneeze (Kimberly Aboriginal Medical Service) 


General resources  

Answers and evidence of best practice - Oxford COVID-19 Evidence Service (Oxford University)  

Department of Health list of resources (Department of Health) 

Subscribe to the Department of Health’s regular email updates for GPs 

Support measures for GPs 

Dementia Help Sheets to navigate coronavirus COVID-19 (Dementia Australia) 

Please make sure you and your colleagues are taking care of yourselves during this difficult time. DRS4DRS can provide independent, safe, supportive and confidential services to you. DRS4DRS promotes the health and wellbeing of doctors and medical students across Australia. https://www.drs4drs.com.au/ 

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