Updated Close Contact Requirements, Mental Health Liaison Team, Home Monitoring for COVID Positive Patients and More

Dear General Practices,

Adelaide PHN continues to keep you informed with the latest COVID-19 news listed below.

Updated Close Contact Requirements

Close contacts of a COVID-19 case are no longer required to quarantine for 7 days, however, restrictions on attending health care settings remain.

A close contact must not attend a Tier 1 setting for 14 days after exposure, except to access medical care or supplies. Tier 1 settings include:

Residential aged care facility
Disability care facility
Prison, correctional facility, training centre or other place of custody
Public or private hospital

Close contacts must not attend a Tier 2 setting for 7 days after exposure, except to access medical care. Tier 2 settings include:

General practices
Pharmacies
Pathology collection centres
Medical specialist services and practices of mental health services and practices
Allied health services
Complementary and alternative therapy services and practices
Community health services including Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services
Dental services
Reproductive and sexual health services
Radiology services
Disability and rehabilitation services
Healthcare services not outlined above

Close contacts should be offered a telehealth appointment unless they need medical care. For example, prescriptions should be conducted via telehealth.

For further information including advice for close contacts working in Tier 2 settings, please visit the SA Health website.

Mental Health Liaison Team

The Mental Health Liaison Team (MHL) provides support for mental health issues that arise due to COVID when individuals may be isolating and feeling anxious or fearful.

MHL offers a phone or health direct service (virtual face to face) for the time the person has COVID symptoms. MHL can even connect with patients and support their mental health needs when they are hospitalised for their physical symptoms.

This short-term service provides interaction and direction for all age groups and can check-in daily for approximately 7 days as required.

Refer a patient by completing the MHL Referral Form and submit to Health.COVIDMentalHealthLiaison@sa.gov.au. Referrals require the individual’s date of birth, name and contact details and the person must know they are being referred.

For more information, please read the MHL flyer.

iCCnet Home Monitoring for COVID Positive Patients

Do you have a COVID-positive patient you’re worried about clinically, or a patient with risk factors for deterioration such as immunosuppression or serious co-morbidities?

GPs are now able to refer directly to iCCnet for home monitoring of COVID positive patients via virtual technology and daily phone calls.

How to refer your patients:

Non-urgent referrals: email a completed electronic referral form to iCCnetCOVIDNURSES@sa.gov.au
Urgent referrals and enquiries: call the iCCnet on-call Nurse Consultant on 0421 878 779

The service provides:

Daily remote home monitoring of patients with a pulse oximeter, BP monitor, thermometer and internet enabled tablet to assist in telehealth connection
Daily phone calls to the patient from iCCnet nurses
Escalation to usual GP (or the GP Assessment Team if usual GP not available) when the patient requires further assessment and care monitoring for 7-10 days

For queries, please text 0421 878 779 for a return call during office hours or email iCCnetCOVIDNURSES@sa.gov.au.

For more information please contact Rosy Tirimacco, RSS Operations and Research Manager iCCnet on 7117 0610 or via rosy.tirimacco@sa.gov.au.

Reminder: Short Term In-Home Nursing Care for COVID Positive Patients

Home nursing care is available for COVID positive patients who require support that is unable to be provided by their usual GP practice due to COVID. Services may include:

Wound care
Medical administration i.e., SC, IV
Paediatric
Obstetric/neonatal
Continence management and TOV

If you are unsure if your patient qualifies for this service, please call the Metropolitan Referral Unit on 1300 110 600.

Clinical templates for referral can be found in Adelaide PHN's Resource Library by searching in home COVID. The referral forms are listed as Referral Form In Home COVID Care and can be imported to Medical Director, Best Practice or Zedmed.

As always, please don't hesitate to contact our team via covid19@adelaidephn.com.au should you have any questions or require support.