COVID-19 information for health professionals and GPs

Information and resources for GPs and health professionals about COVID-19.

If you are a patient or visitor looking for information about COVID-19, please visit our information about coronavirus (COVID-19) page.

On this page

• COVID-19 advice
• RAT distribution
• Immunisation
• Referral for Remdesivir
• Referrals for patients with Post COVID-19 Disease (Long COVID)
• Changes to our services
• Diagnostic results

COVID-19 advice

Important links

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RAT Distribution

Currently, participating local councils are providing free RATs to eligible community members, including those aged 70 and older, people with disability, those who are immunocompromised or their carer, and eligible concession card holders.

However, the Department of Health are working towards expanding this in 2023. View this article for more information about free RATs for Victorians.

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Immunisation

The Victorian Specialist Immunisation Services (VicSIS) network has been created to address queries, safely vaccinate under supervision and enhance adult immunisation services in Victoria.

The VicSIS network provides specialist vaccination services for people who have experienced an adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) with a COVID-19 vaccine, or those who are identified as at risk of an AEFI (for example, people with a history of anaphylaxis). VicSIS can also provide specialist immunisation support, and provide a link between the key stakeholders, the Department of Health, SAEFVIC and hospital sites that form part of the network.

Visit the VicSIS website for more information.

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Referral for Remdesivir

Doctors from Monash Health (and our Monash Health Emergency Department) can refer patients directly for treatment with IV Remdesivir over three days.

To be treated with IV Remdesivir through our Hospital in the Home (HiTH) service, patients must:

• Live in Monash Health Catchment area
• Be a patient of a Monash Health Clinic (eg transplant or haematology/oncology)
• Have no history of Chronic Liver Disease or Cirrhosis
• Have an eGFR >30 or on dialysis
• Have a consent and treatment plan documented in SMR
• Be ambulant and continent
• Not live in an aged care facility

Please assess patients against the National Stockpile Criteria.

Please note: there will be no further medical review of the patients after the referral has been received. The referring clinician is responsible for ensuring that the patient cannot have Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir therapies and that Remdesivir is not contraindicated.

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Referrals for patients with Post COVID-19 Disease (Long COVID)

Monash Health does not have a dedicated Long COVID clinic.

Consider referral to relevant Specialist Clinic if appropriate using HealthLink.

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Changes to our services

Maternity

If you have a pregnant patient with suspected or confirmed coronavirus, please contact the Pregnancy Assessment Unit via the hospital switchboard for triage advice.

To minimise outpatient attendances, many women will be managed via Telehealth for the first half or more of their pregnancy. In light of this, when making pregnancy referrals to Monash Health we ask that you please:

• perform and include a blood pressure measurement on your referral to assist with safe triage
• offer all women the COVID-19 vaccine

Please don’t hesitate to be in touch if you have queries regarding maternity care during this time. More information for health professionals is available via the Health professionals page on our Monash Women’s website.

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Diagnostic results

Pathology

For up to date information about Monash Pathology, please see the Monash Pathology homepage, or sign up to Monash Pathology’s GP Newsletter. 

Imaging

For up-to-date information about Monash Health Imaging, please see the Monash Health Imaging webpage.

Reports and general enquiries

Learn how to access images online with Monash Health Imaging Vue Motion.

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