COVID 19 Measures

17/03/2020

Dear Clients, Families, Residents, Partners and Stakeholders,

With the recent spread of Coronavirus, now known as COVID-19, we want to assure you we have measures in place at Optimum Allied Health (OAH) to protect our community.

This letter outlines the current and new measures we have put in place to ensure the health and wellbeing of our residents and clients.

What steps is OAH taking?

Our OAH team members, their families and our clients are our highest priority. OAH is taking steps to minimise the risk of transmission; these are:

• OAH is and will be continuing to follow advice from the federal and state government as new information becomes available.
• Screening questions have been added to all client booking calls. If there are any concerns that Coronavirus is a risk the booking will not go ahead without medical clearance.
• Establishment of a log for all OAH team members travelling overseas, their destination and planned return date. Overseas travel has primarily been cancelled. All staff will be observing the mandatory isolation period post-international travel
• Additional Infection control measures implemented in clinic, for home visits and in residential aged care facilities. Including signs related to effective infection control placed in clinics, appropriate hand sanitisers available for clients and staff use for all appointments (including in residential care and at a clients home) and additional hand washing procedures for staff.

What next?

OAH remains open for appointments, residential aged care visits and home-visits but we do ask that clients experiencing flu like symptoms refrain from attending the clinic or cancel their home-visits.

OAH will continue to monitor the updates from the federal and state Governments. You will receive further communication if there are any significant changes to the advice.

In the meantime, please practice good respiratory and personal hygiene including:

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing
• Cough into your elbow.
• Dispose of tissues.
• Wash your hands with soap after coughing, sneezing, using the toilet and before eating.

For the latest updates (note there are regular changes) please, refer to the department of health via this link:

https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert

What to do if you think you have or are at high risk of Coronavirus

The Coronavirus symptoms:  

•  Sore throat
• Fever (usually mild)
• Development of flu-like symptoms such as coughing, fatigue
• Shortness of breath

If you develop Coronavirus symptoms AND you have been in close contact to a confirmed case OR you are in close contact to a person that has symptoms and is awaiting a test result OR you have returned from or been in contact with an individual from a high risk area (as per government info page linked above), please adhere to the following advice:

1) DO NOT present to a medical clinic before calling the hotline or at least calling ahead to the medical clinic so they can complete a phone triage.

• The Coronavirus health information line: 1800 020 080
• Health direct information line: 1800 022 22

2) If you are tested for the virus you must self-isolate. Isolation guidance can be found here.

3) OAH staff and clients will not attend appointments until the isolation period is complete or they present a

medical clearance to confirm you are safe to return to work or appointments.

We will continue to monitor information and provide updates on this website as they become available. 

Yours sincerely,

Dane Mitchell 

Managing Director 

Optimum Allied Health