THURSDAY, 6 AUGUST 2020
Our thoughts are with our Victorian members, especially those in metropolitan Melbourne.
ESSA Advocacy: We are fighting for exercise physiology services to be listed as a permitted work premise
Anita Hobson-Powell, ESSA’s CEO has had three conversations in the past 24 hours with Victoria’s Chief Allied Health Officer, Adjunct Associate Professor Donna Markham about the impact of exercise physiology being explicitly listed as a ‘Permitted Work Premise’ under the Permitted Work Premises for the purposes of the Restricted Activity Directions (Restricted Areas) (No 6). ESSA has also sent a detailed letter to the Chief Allied Health Officer outlining the unintended consequences of exercise physiology being excluded, by name, as a ‘Permitted Work Premise’. Anita Hobson-Powell as the Chair of National Alliance of Self Regulating Health Professions (NASRHP) has also sent a letter to Chief Allied Health Officer.
Recap: Current Permitted Work Premises - Stage 4 - Metropolitan Melbourne
Whilst some services are permitted, all members in metropolitan Melbourne are required to reduce their movement and interactions as much as possible and transition clients to telehealth as far as practical. The Permitted Work Premises for the purposes of the Restricted Activity Directions (Restricted Areas) (No 6) are provided here.
Accredited Exercise Physiologists
Accredited Exercise Physiologists cannot:
- Provide in-person services for MBS (Medicare) clients. All MBS clients need to move to telehealth.
- Accept private referrals from GPs or specialists/other health professionals.
Accredited Exercise Physiologists can:
- Provide in-person services for NDIS, TAC, Workcover and DVA clients only if providing the services prevents a significant change/deterioration in functional independence necessitating escalation of care (e.g., a requirement for specialist input/review, an increase in care needs and/or alternate accommodation, avoiding a hospital admission or emergency department presentation).
- Provide telehealth services from allied health clinics. Having said that, anyone who can work at home must work at home in order to minimise travel and minimise risk of transmission.
- Provide in-person services for aged care services and retirement villages.
- Provide in-person services for home visits for critical care clients under NDIS, TAC, Workcover and DVA subject to those homes being treated as workplaces in respect to infection control, hand hygiene and social distancing. (E.g. treat the home as your COVID safe clinic.)
Accredited Exercise Scientists
- AES need to work from home and offer services through telehealth unless working as an allied health assistant for an allied health professional providing critical services for NDIS, TAC, Workcover and DVA clients but only if providing the services prevents a significant change/deterioration in functional independence necessitating escalation of care.
DHHS is committed to reducing hospitalisations therefore only acute cases can be serviced by AHPRA professionals. Example, diabetic foot ulcer support by the podiatrist that can prevent amputation. If an AHPRA professional is found to be seeing NON CRITICAL clients, they can be fined.
Working across multiple sites
Each employer must determine who will be authorised to issue their employees a worker permit. For an employer with multiple work sites, they may decide to designate an authorised person at each work site. Employers should minimise any requirement for employees to work at different sites. An employee working at more than one site must keep a log of the places visited including date, time and place of attendance.
Requirements
Worker Permits
Any metro Melbourne practitioners travelling to their clinic will require a worker permit. Sole traders must issue a worker permit and sign the worker permit as both the employer and employee.
COVID-Safe Plans
All businesses across Victoria (both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria) must complete their COVID-Safe Plan by 11.59pm on 7 August 2020. The exception is businesses with fewer than 5 employees.
- If your organisation has an existing formalised coronavirus pandemic plan, it is your responsibility to ensure that it addresses all the guidance and requirements outlined in the COVID Safe Plan template as a minimum.
- While organisations are required to have a COVID-Safe Plan, it is not a requirement to use the COVID-Safe Plan template.
- Organisations do not have to lodge their COVID-Safe Plan with the Victorian Government. However, you may be required to provide the COVID Safe Plan to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) or WorkSafe upon request or in the event of a confirmed positive case at your workplace.
Recap: Services that are allowed in Stage 3 restrictions (Regional Victoria including Shire of Mitchell)
ESSA recommends that clients are transitioned to telepractice where possible.
An AEP delivering services in regional Victoria under Stage 3 restrictions may continue to see in-person clients IF clinically necessary i.e. the recent directions from the Chief health Officer on the types of clients that can be seen in person for Stage 4 does not apply to the Stage 3 restrictions.
In-person private practices:
For in-person AEP services: Up to 10 practitioners and clients in total in a clinic at any one time (e.g., could be 2 x AEPs delivering group classes for 3 x clients in each class and 2 x AEPs providing individual consults) providing all social distancing and density requirements can be met. If a practicum student is involved, then the student is counted in the total of 10 people.
For in-person indoor group AEP services: 3 x clients in a group and 1 x AEP (4 people in total) for essential allied health clinical care for in-person group AEP classes based on clinical judgement of AEP. Up to two groups in separate spaces at one time if density and social distancing requirements can be met. If a practicum student is involved with a group class, then only two clients are allowed (4 people in total). ESSA supports the continuation of clinical group services to accommodate those clients who may not otherwise be able to afford 1:1 healthcare.
In-person home visits: ESSA does not recommend home visits in regional Victoria at this time unless your client needs critical or urgent care.
Outdoor services: Whilst ESSA recommends ceasing all outdoor services, personal training outdoors can occur but with a limit of two participants, plus the instructor.
Online services: You can still operate online.
Hospitals, emergency services, COVID-19 clinics: Operate within the guidance coming from your employer.
An AES in regional Victoria can provide exercise services under Stage 3 in the following ways:
Essential NDIS services: As either a personal trainer OR as an Allied Health Assistant (supervised). Essential services provided under the NDIS are those deemed by the NDIS participant to be an essential service.
Allied Health Assistants: As an allied health assistant under supervision of an allied health professional e.g., such as assisting the delivery of an essential clinical service in an AEP or multi-disciplinary practice.
Outdoor services: Whilst ESSA recommends ceasing all outdoor services, personal training outdoors can occur but with a limit of two participants, plus the instructor.
Under Stage 3 lockdown conditions, AES cannot continue to deliver exercise services indoors to healthy populations or provide personal training, even within an allied health clinic, apart from NDIS services.
All businesses across regional Victoria must complete their COVID-Safe plan by 11.59pm on 7 August 2020. The exception is businesses with fewer than 5 employees.
Join next week’s solution focused Q&A session for Victorian members
ESSA and the Victoria State Chapter will host a live ZOOM Meeting for all Victorian accredited professionals – covering telehealth, marketing, success stories and general support. Please email any questions you would like covered before the event. Email [email protected] by 5:00pm Tuesday, 11 August. There will be a limit of 100 participants, however, we will provide the recording ASAP.
Date and time: Wednesday, 12 August 2020 | 7.30pm - 9.00pm
Register here
DHHS Seeking Allied Health Support: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Health workforce response
Expressions of interest are sought for all clinical skill-sets – doctors (general, limited and specialist registrants), nurses, midwives, allied health professionals (therapies and sciences) and paramedics. Click here for more.
ESSA Marketing Campaign
From Monday, 10 August, ESSA will be launching a Victorian specific marketing campaign encouraging those affected by lockdown to seek the advice of an accredited exercise professional via telehealth. If you have not updated your profile to include telehealth services on the ESSA website already, please do so today! Login to the ESSA website and update your details via ‘My Account’ and don’t miss out on potential referrals!
FAQs
Can I use the commercial gym I would normally work from to deliver my essential in-person services?
NO. All gyms are closed all across Victoria (metro Melbourne and regions) and may not be used or re-purposed for clinical services are under any circumstances. They are not listed on the Permitted Work Premises for the purposes of the Restricted Activity Directions (Restricted Areas) (No 6)
Can I travel to my clinic (where I normally provide in-person services) to deliver telehealth services?
Yes, if it is not reasonably practical to deliver telehealth services from home.
How do I decide whether the services I provide my client are ‘critical’?
ESSA has developed a decision tree tool to assist you in assessing this - click here.
My CPR and First Aid is due to expire, how can I do another course during Stage 3 and 4 restrictions?
With the ongoing impact of COVID-19, some CPR and First Aid providers have begun delivering courses online. Please check with your preferred course provider to confirm if they are providing online training courses resulting in the required awards of HLTAID003 Provide First Aid and HLTAID001 Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. As an example, Life Saving Victoria are offering online courses, click here for more information.
Can I see Medicare clients in-person in private practice in Stage 4?
No. ESSA is looking to get this ruling changed.
Yes, for those in Stage 3.
Can I see private paying clients in private practice in Stage 4?
No.
Yes, for those in Stage 3.
Can I see clients who have a referral from the GP or medical professional in private practice?
Only if client must meet both criteria:
1) They are a DVA, NDIS, TAC or WorkCover patient
2) The services MUST be needed to prevent a significant change/deterioration in functional independence necessitating escalation of care (e.g. a requirement for specialist input/review, an increase in care needs and/or alternate accommodation, avoiding a hospital admission or emergency department presentation).
Can I see clients if I work in registered community base services?
Yes, only if necessary. However, DHHS wants to minimise all in-person contact.
Can I travel to see clients?
Yes, if critically necessary. However, DHHS wants practitioners to minimise travel for clients.
I am unsure how to set up my telepractice offerings?
ESSA has created a huge suite of support – click here.
DHHS Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – PPE for Allied Health in Private Practice Settings
- Tier 0 is currently not applicable.
- Tier 1 – Eye protection is now a mandatory item.
- Tier 2 – The definition of Tier 2 has been redefined
- Tier 3 – The definition of Tier 3 has been expanded to include a broader range of settings
Download the latest Guide to the conventional use of PPE (updated 6 August, 2020).
Mental Health – COVID-19 hotline for health professionals in Victoria
There is a dedicated COVID-19 hotline for health professionals in Victoria – call 1800 675 398, 24 hours a day.
The Essential Network (TEN) is a mobile app developed for health care professionals to manage life and work through COVID-19. It was developed by Black Dog Institute, in partnership with a range of other organisations and funded by the Australian Government. You can download the app through the Apple store or through Google Play.
Interim Report Inquiry into the Victorian Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Public Accounts and Estimates Committee, Parliament of Victoria
The interim report was tabled on 4 August, 2020 and it covers many areas of life in Victoria affected during the emergency, including health, economy, jobs, infrastructure, industry, justice, education and environment, as well as social impacts. The next report is due at the end of October. ESSA lodged a submission to this Inquiry on 31 July, 2020 and it will be made available once it has been accepted by the Committee.
Retrieving Your Medicare Provider Numbers
Services Australia on how to retrieve the confirmation if AEPs have misplaced their documentation. If the provider number has been created through HPOS, the practitioner can access their mailbox within HPOS, access the confirmation email which is generated when the provider number is issued and click on the PDF contained in the notice.
If the provider number has not been created through HPOS (i.e. manually via a provider number application form), your members will need to contact the Provider Registration team on 132 150 or via email [email protected] to arrange for this to be sent via Australia Post. At this time we are unable to fax or email confirmation letters. Also, if the email notification in HPOS has been deleted, the provider will need to contact the Provider Registration team as per the above details.
Supply of Face Shields
Allied health professionals need to source face shields commercially as there is a limited supply of face shields through Primary Health Networks.
COVID-19 response update for Primary Care and Allied Health Practitioners – 5 August
The recording of the last webinar is here.
JobSeeker – Mutual Obligation
Job seekers in Victoria: If you live in Victoria, you should continue to meet the limited requirements introduced on 9 June. This means you should engage with your employment services provider online or over the phone. No penalties or suspensions will apply if you can’t. More details here.
CPD
Micro-credentials in digitally enabled healthcare - RMIT Online and the Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre (CRC)
All courses are a six-week program of online study.
Digital Health Strategy and Change (next start date 21 September 2020): Learn how digital health technologies can drive transformations within your organisation. Create a case for investing in digital health and develop a change management plan to enable meaningful adoption.
Technology Enabled Care (next start date 2 November 2020): Equip yourself with the knowledge and practical skills to deliver effective, quality, human-centred care and prevention with the use of modern technology.
Healthcare Design (next start date 16 November 2020): Accelerate your career with knowledge of Australian healthcare systems and skills in human centred design. Imagine and design alternative futures for the industry and create a prototype for the healthcare of tomorrow.
Each course will be a blend of learning and coaching by industry mentors. Requiring a commitment of just 6-10 hours a week, the program is designed to fit in and around work and life commitments. Other partners involved in the development of the courses are Queensland Health, Telstra Health, Canteen and RMIT’s Health Transformation Lab.
Each of the courses will provide a foundation for further study. All three courses have been built to align with the Australian Qualifications Framework, enabling learners to stack their short course credentials into postgraduate qualifications (to be released in 2021).
The Digital Health CRC and RMIT Online are pleased to be able to offer 105 sponsored places across these three courses.
Expressions of Interest for these sponsored places will open on Tuesday, 4 August and close on Tuesday, 18 August. Successful applicants awarded sponsored places will be notified in the week beginning 24 August. More details here.
Research
An article in the Conversation from 30 July, 2020: Mapping COVID-19 spread in Melbourne shows link to job types and ability to stay home.
The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS), an Australian Government statutory agency has released this report: Families in Australia Survey: Life during COVID-19 Report no. 1: Early findings