For the past month, Healthy North Coast has run regular news stories to ensure GPs are ready for a COVID-19 outbreak in a residential aged care facility (RACF).
We have put together the COVID-19 RACF GP Framework to guide how GPs will cover facilities in an outbreak. The framework outlines the key roles of the GP Team Leader and locum roles.
What can GPs with a few residents in an RACF do to prepare?
- Visit the Primary Care Impact page for RACF COVID-19 outbreak preparedness and read the fact sheet about the framework.
- Ensure your advance care directives are up to date with a COVID-19 statement included. If the RACF does not have a template to use, consider using the Nepean Blue Mountains PHN RACF COVID-19 Statement of Wishes.
- Know who your GP Team Leader for the facility will be and their contact details.
- Obtain a completed copy of the COVID-19 RACF GP Outbreak Management Kit from your RACF manager.
- Consider if you can do a remote on-call after hours shift – see the outbreak management kit.
Remember the RACFs, local health districts, HNC and the Public Health Unit are liaising regularly to prepare for a local outbreak.
Next steps in our activities – our Primary Health Coordinators will be in touch with all RACF managers to obtain GP Team Leader names. These leaders will then be invited to collaborate with other GP team leads and will be regularly updated to keep their knowledge current and provide a point of reference at Healthy North Coast.
Click images to download documents
Do you have questions?
Contact Bron McCrae, Deputy Director — Healthy Living and Ageing, Healthy North Coast: [email protected]
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land we live and work, the Bundjalung, Arakwal, Yaegl, Gumbaynggirr, Githabul, Dunghutti and Birpai Nations, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to elders past, present and future.
