In preparation for the opening of the South Australian borders on the 23rd of November, our clinic has undertaken significant operational changes to the way we operate for the foreseeable future in order to help protect our patients and team members from COVID-19. These changes are listed below:

Telehealth appointments

• All online appointments will now be defaulted to Telehealth only. Patients who require a face-to-face appointment will need to call the clinic on 1300 172 996 to book, and will be screened over the phone for symptoms by our reception staff members.
• All Telehealth appointments attract a $20 GAP payment unless for results or for patients in isolation due to COVID-19 symptoms or potential exposure.

Patients with symptoms

• Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms must not be present in a primary or community health setting unless directed by a doctor. Symptoms may be mild and include: fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath, fatigue (tiredness), change in taste, change in smell, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, headache, muscle/joint pain and loss of appetite
• Any patient who has any of the symptoms listed above (however mild), will not be able to attend the UniSA Medical Clinics in person and will instead need to make a Telehealth appointment. This includes hay fever symptoms & tonsillitis, which cannot be easily distinguished from COVID-19.
• The treating GP may then determine that you need a face-to-face appointment and will arrange a time for you to be assessed onsite. Symptomatic patients may also be requested to undertake a COVID-19 PCR test at least 72 hours prior to their face-to-face appointment, and must show evidence of a negative result prior to arrival.
• Patients with symptoms may also consider presenting to a GP Respiratory Clinic for assessment of their symptoms and to have a COVID-19 test: https://adelaidephn.com.au/covid-19-provider-update/gp-respiratory-clinics

Patients in Quarantine/Isolation or Waiting for a COVID-19 Test result

• Any patient currently in quarantine/isolation are not permitted to come onsite and will need to make a Telehealth appointment. Quarantine/Isolation may be due to:
  • SA Health Advice
  • Waiting on a COVID Test result
  • Recent travel direction
  • Contacted with a suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 case
  • Attending an exposure site

Unvaccinated/Not Fully Vaccinated Patients

• Once there is community transmission in SA, all patients who are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19 will be referred to a Telehealth appointment. The treating GP will then assess the need for a face-to-face appointment, and will help facilitate an onsite appointment if required. You may also be requested to have a COVID-19 PCR test at least 72 hours prior to coming onsite.
• Patients and visitors who do not wish to reveal their COVID-19 vaccination status over the phone or when presenting on site will be referred to a Telehealth appointment. If a face-to-face appointment was initially made, the appointment will be switched to a Telehealth appointment instead. The treating GP will then assess the need for a face-to-face appointment, and will help facilitate an onsite appointment if required. You may also be requested to have a COVID-19 PCR test at least 72 hours prior to coming onsite.

Face mask requirement

• All patients, visitors and staff members must wear a face mask (preferably a surgical mask) when attending onsite – mask exemptions do not apply in the high-risk healthcare setting, as per SA Health’s directive

Onsite appointments and long appointments

• All patients and visitors presenting onsite will be screened for symptoms prior to entry, and are required to show proof of their COVID-19 QR check in, and their COVID-19 vaccination status from Tuesday 23rd November 2021.
• All face to face appointments lasting longer than 15 minutes (long appointments, i.e: excisions, Implanon insertion/removal, Mirena insertion/removal, iron infusions etc) will incur a $20 PPE gap fee, and a Rapid Antigen Test fee (price may vary depending on the brand of kit used) on top of the procedure fee.
• Patients required to undergo a RAT, will be informed to arrive 20 mins before the appointment time.
• Patients must not arrive more than 5 minutes before your appointment time if you are booked in for a face-to-face appointment unless you have been informed otherwise.
• Please do not bring extra people to your appointment unless you require them for specific care or support. Please advise our clinic prior to your appointment if you need to bring other people along to your appointment.