Townsville-based general practice Cranbrook Medical is using innovative methods to deal with the current busy winter season of COVID-19 and influenza and protect the safety of its patients.
Australia had record low flu numbers during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the number of influenza cases have increased rapidly this winter.
Cranbrook Medical Operations Manager Laura Rasmussen said the practice had implemented several initiatives to help protect the health and safety of its patients.
“We have an outdoor respiratory clinic as a designated area at our practice,” said Laura.
“It's covered and it's also private, and there is a specific side gate patients can come through when they arrive.
“If they've identified as having any flu-like symptoms or recently had COVID, we just ask them to let us know that they're here and they stay in their car.
“The doctor calls them to have majority of the conversation over the phone, and then directs them to come around to our respiratory clinic once it's available.
“We also have a PPE station there, with designated equipment for the doctor, and hand sanitiser for patients.
“Patients also have privacy and shade, and they're right next to a kitchen, so if they're needing a drink of water, we just get it for them.”
Laura said that Cranbrook Medical is also opening up a new procedure room to further assist specific patients.
“If we have any patients having spirometry, for example asthmatic patients, we want to move them to an isolated area rather than in the big treatment area where there's a three-bedded bay,” she said.
“We're going to move them into their own little procedure rooms that we've only just built and are now opening for our patients.
“We also get them to do a RAT test beforehand, and we have a couple of different waiting areas, so if we don’t think they’ve got respiratory symptoms, we have a designated waiting area where they can sit right near the nurse and still be monitored.”
Laura said telehealth is still being utilised as an important method of liaising with patients in a safe manner.
“There have been times where a patient is not well enough to come in, and the doctors will assess whether they need telehealth or not,” she said.
“We do have our outdoor respiratory clinic where the doctors do a thorough physical assessment, but there is still that option on video calls as well.”
Laura said her practice is passionate about keeping as many people as safe as possible, not only in the community, but also her own staff at Cranbrook Medical.
“We’ve got lots of vulnerable people such as the elderly which we look after, and a lot of our patient base has been coming to us for generations,” she said.
“We want to eliminate or reduce the amount of hospital presentations, so we see our role as being able to provide primary health care as best we can and keep everybody safe.
“Our staff also know what we’re trying to do and know the importance of it all, and they're all really good at promoting that.
“For example, our nurses are excellent at making sure they pick up on things and follow up with patients and know who's been unwell and who might need a phone call if they've been stuck at home for a week.
“I'm very proud of our practice and what we do here. I think we have a beautiful approach to primary health and general practice, and I hope that it continues.”