Community care helps to conquer coronavirus

Did you know hospital care has been provided to COVID-19 patients in their own homes?

The Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) Integrated and Community Health Care team has been helping to support the community through the pandemic by providing over the phone care to community members with the virus.

The team has taken over 4300 calls in 30 different languages to people during their 14 days of isolation, and provided clinical assessment and review for more than 270 patients with relatively mild cases of the coronavirus.

Integrated and Community Health acting general manager Luke Elias said the team’s efforts were tireless.

“A vast majority of COVID-19 cases were being managed in the community and never required hospitalisation,” Luke said.

“Our staff’s expertise and passion allowed amazing end-to-end care, from diagnosis to discharge.”

Integration, Strategic Partnerships and Enablers director Tanya Critchlow said the team has worked in all facets of COVID management, and their level of enthusiasm has been incredible.

The COVID-19 monitoring service consisted of doctors, nurses, and administration staff, all working together to provide community-based support.

Integrated Chronic Care program manager Jeeyoun Jun said some patients experienced heightened anxiety around a wide range of issues.

“There were a lot of unknowns about the COVID-19 situation,” Jeeyoun said.

“Our skilled community nurses and staff have changed the way they work to support patients outside of our hospital walls.

“We have developed a screening tool to assess low, medium and high risk patients by looking at pre-existing health issues, including mental health problems.

“It was important that these patients received the best possible care while minimising non-essential hospital transfers.”

Integrated and Community Health continues to morph the service, with a focus now on assisting with screening, especially for those that are unable to get to a COVID-19 clinic or GP.

For more information contact Tanya Critchlow at Tanya.Critchlow@health.nsw.gov.au.