On behalf of the Australian and Victorian governments, EMPHN is communicating with GPs and other primary health care providers about the Novel Coronavirus and coordinating any response.
Health professionals should visit these websites for up-to-date information including the current case definition:
Information for the Victorian public
Notification of cases and clinical information
COVID-19 Vaccination Response
Residential Aged Care Providers (RACFs)
Map of testing sites
Telehealth
Pharmacies and Pharmacists
Disability Supports
General Practice
General Practice
Infection Control and Cleaning
Preparation and Response
Managing COVID +ve patients care pathways
- Victorian hotline 1800 675 398
- National hotline 1800 020 080
- Please keep Triple Zero (000) for emergencies only.
- Victorian Government Department of Health Human Services (DHHS)
- Head to Health mental health support 1800 595 212
- EMPHN's Mental Health Referral and Access Team -SupportConnect
- BeyondBlue mental health supports
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Supports
- DHHS COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Testing
- Translated Resources on COVID-19 and multilingual videos
- Austin Health COVID-19 Website - Hotline 03 9496 6606
- Symptoms and risks of COVID-19
- Book your COVID-19 vaccine
- Notification of suspected cases is no longer required.
- If you tested positive using a rapid antigen test, you must report your result to the Department of Health online, or call 1800 675 398. You don’t need to report your result if you tested positive from a PCR test. However, it is recommended to fill out the survey you receive via SMS from the Department.
- Medical practitioners seeking advice can contact DHHS 1300 651 160 (select 'Specialist Medical Advice' option)
The Australian Government is working closely with the Victorian Government, peak bodies and Primary Health Networks on the rollout plan and we will communicate this information as quickly as we can.
Official information:
Training and resources:
- POLAR Walkthrough Booster 4 Winter Dose
- COVID-19 Vaccination Training Program
- ATAGI immunisation provider guide to obtaining informed consent for COVID-19 vaccine.
- COVID-19 vaccination consent form
- Thrombosis Thrombocytopenia Syndrome TTS HealthPathways webinar 30 June.
- Primary Care Management Of Myocarditis And Pericarditis After MRNA COVID-19 Vaccines webinar.
Other resources:
Subscribe to the Department of Health and Aged Care COVID-19 vaccine updates.
Vaccination rollout information
- Latest up-to-date information on winter doses
- Any clinical incidents need to be immediately reported to the Vaccine Operations Centre (VOC). The VOC can be contacted 7 days on 1800 318 208 during the hours of 7am-10pm AEDT.
Please contact racfsupport@emphn.org.au with any questions on the RACF rollout.
COVID-19 information
- Australian Department of Health (DoHAC) fact sheets for RACFs
- Victorian Department of Health (DHHS) resources for RACFs
- Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) national guidelines for prevention, control and public health management of COVID-19 in RACFs
COVID-19 resources:
Aged care providers are required to supply own Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). After a facility has explored alternative supply options, they may request supply from the National Medical Stockpile by emailing AgedCareCOVIDPPE@health.gov.au
An interactive map has been developed by DHHS and can be used to identify GP led testing clinics, hospital respiratory clinics, community health clinics, GP respiratory clinics and pathology collection centres. Click the image below to access the map.
Call-to-test service
The Call-to-Test service provide access for people who cannot leave home due to injury, mobility or other eligible reasons.to get tested for coronavirus at home with a qualified health clinician. Visit the DHHS website for more information.
Local testing clinics
General practices testing for COVID-19 in EMPHNs catchment can be found here. These practices are testing anyone in the community.
Telehealth
- COVID-19 Temporary MBS Telehealth Services
- Privacy and confidentiality for using Telehealth
- RACGP: Resources to support the use of technology in general practice
- RACGP Flowcharts: Telehealth and video Consultations in general practice
- Telehealth Consultation Consumer Information
- Telehealth interpreting for medical consultations
- Telehealth decision tool (Safer Care Victoria)
- How to do a High Quality Remote Consultation
HealthDirect
Healthdirect Australia is pleased to announce the extension of the healthdirect Video Call COVID- 19 GP Program to 30 June 2023. If you are a general practice and would like to register for a ‘video call’ account, please complete this online form.
All other non-GP type services, like allied health providers, including mental health and alcohol and drug service providers, would need to go through the existing onboarding process for the Healthdirect Video Call Services Pilot.
- My Health Record COVID-19 Immunisations (EMPHN Version)
- Video Call training - please register for a session and let your team know about these training sessions. You will see RACGP accredited training for GPs who will receive CPD points for attending those sessions.
- This is the video for clinic administrators and includes how to add and manage team members
- Share waiting area via email or SMS
- How to sign in and see a patient – this one is a short video for service providers
- Full service provider training demonstration video (26 mins)
- Home page for our Resource Centre – this covers all aspects of Video Call. Just search for what you would like to know
- Telehealth - introducing video visits with your patients webinar recording 25 August
- Video: Using Telehealth by Dr Arthur Zulman 25 August
For more information on using Healthdirect - Healthdirect video call platform
Pharmacy Relevant Information, Resources, Training and Supports
- Pharmaceutical Society of Australia: Coronavirus Disease
- Pharmacy Guild of Australia: COVID-19 Information
- Australia Post Pharmacy Home Delivery Service, follow these steps to register with Australia Post. Queries can be directed to pharmacysupport@auspost.com.au
- Pharmacies must register as a COVID-19 Home Medicines Service provider via the Pharmacy Programs Administrator (PPA) portal
- Pharmaceutical Society of Australia - electronic prescribing
- Disability Information Helpline - Phone (free call): 1800 643 787
- If you are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment, you can also call the National Relay Service on 133 677
- Department of Social Services - Disability Information and Referrals Website
- DH Disability Services Sector Information
Official Resources
- Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services - For Health Professionals
- DHHS Information for aboriginal communities
General Practice Resources
- COVID-19 Practice Plan (Version 2)
- COVID-19 Triage Protocol
- Translated Resources on COVID-19
- National Clinical Guidelines COVID-19
- HealthPathways Melbourne – COVID-19 clinical and referral pathways
Other resources
- Primary care package Practice Incentive Payments (PIP)
- Practice incentive Payment (PIP) and Workforce Incentive Program (WIP)
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Supports
- COVID-19 infection control training.
- Victorian DHHS guidelines for health services and general practitioners has six useful resources.
- EMPHN webinar Infection prevention and control.
- RACGP Correct use of PPE
- About the COVID +ve pathways
- COVID-19 +ve care pathway webinar 14 September Eastern Health. View the recorded webinar.