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COVID clinical care information, flowcharts and matrix

 

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

Discharge planning

Management of COVID-19 positive cases

Surgery

Allied Health COVID-19 guidelines

Testing and Clearance

Flowchart for non-surge period

Flowchart for surge period

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

Detention

Clinical Ethics committee

Staff can access this information from the intranet.

Medical records and coding

Staff can access this information from the intranet.

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