CALHN staff are to follow the CALHN management of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) policy PRC05409 –COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) - Management Guide which is available from eCentral.
Other resources
- CALHN positive COVID-19 case initial contact tracing management - after hours checklist | 20 May 2022
Discharge planning
- CALHN COVID-19 Positive Discharge Planning Matrix | 10 August 2022
Management of COVID-19 positive cases
- COVID-19 patients at TQEH and HRC - guidelines - V 2.1 | 23 March 2023
- Location management of COVID-19 positive patients receiving care at the RAH | 10 November 2022
Surgery
- CALHN COVID-19 risk stratification for Tech Suite workflow RAH | 17 August 2022
- CALHN COVID-19 risk stratification for TQEH theatre – EMERGENCY | 18 January 2022
- CALHN COVID-19 risk stratification for TQEH theatre – ELECTIVE | 18 January 2022
- CALHN COVID-19 elective surgery pre-operation screening workflow | 18 January 2022
Allied Health COVID-19 guidelines
- Hydrotherapy COVID-19 Safety Guidelines | 14 September 20022
- Inpatient HRC Therapy COVID-19 Safety | 14 September 2022
- Outpatient Allied Health Group sessions - COVID-19 | 14 September 2022
Testing and Clearance
Flowchart for non-surge period
- CALHN COVID-19 Testing and Clearance Flowchart (non-surge) v7.1 | 30 November 2022
Flowchart for surge period
- CALHN COVID-19 Testing and Clearance Flowchart (surge) v7.2 | 30 November 2022
COVID-19 PCR test added to RAT surveillance schedule | 1 September 2022
Patients at low risk of COVID and with an initial negative test will require ongoing testing during inpatient stay at the following sites:
- RAH: RAT on admission and alternate days thereafter or as directed (ARRC-PCR on admission and alternate days thereafter or as directed)
- TQEH: PCR on admission to ward and repeat RAT alternate days thereafter
- HRC/RHC: PCR on admission to ward and repeat RAT alternate days thereafter
- Inpatient Mental Health (Glenside/RAH/QEH): PCR on admission to ward and repeat PCR alternate days thereafter or follow testing advised by medical lead
- Community Mental Health (Elpida/WICC): RAT on admission and alternate days thereafter or as directed or follow testing advised by medical lead
Notes:
- Variations to the above may be advised by CALHN COVID-19 Steering Committee (CALHN Communication) or Infectious Diseases / Outbreak Management Team.
- All patients returning from day leave should have a RAT and continue with routine testing thereafter.
The PCR test is being introduced as a surveillance swab and should not delay patient flow or treatment. PCR test results can take between 15-24 hours.
If the patient is symptomatic or a close contact, enhanced respiratory precautions (ERPs) are required until the patient is cleared as per the protocol.
If the patient is not symptomatic or a close contact, and the PCR is performed for surveillance, ERPs are not required, and patient flow or treatment must not be delayed while awaiting PCR results.
Process to follow:
- On admission to the ward, the admitting nurse will perform a PCR and RAT
- Use standard precautions ONLY pending the PCR result (unless the RAT is positive)
- Please continue to do a RAT every second day for all inpatients during their hospital stay
Elective surgery patients will be screened post procedure on admission to the ward.
No screen is necessary at the receiving sites as part of the Intra-CALHN patient transfer process.
If you have any questions, please contact the Infection Prevention and Control Unit via Health.CALHNInfectionPreventionandControlUnit@sa.gov.au
Mental health
- CALHN COVID-19 Mental Health workflow for query or positive | 26 August 2021
Detention
- South Australian Public Health Act 2011 - Power to require detention and review of detention orders by Supreme Court s77 s78
- COVID-19 proforma guide to make an urgent oral detention order under section 77 (3) (staff only access)
- COVID-19 management of patients who fail to comply with the direction to remain in hospital for treatment (staff only access)
Clinical Ethics committee
Staff can access this information from the intranet.
Medical records and coding
Staff can access this information from the intranet.