We provide care to patients who need new or ongoing treatment while COVID-19 positive.
Key points
- We provide specialist nursing care to patients who are COVID-19 positive
- Antiviral therapies for at risk patients
What we do
Our COVID-19 Infusion Centre provides space and specialist nursing care to patients who are COVID-19 positive who require:
- Ongoing pathology, where attendance at a regular pathology service is not accessible
- Haemodialysis
- Lifesaving drug therapies
- Blood transfusions
- Ongoing intravenous immunoglobulin
- Medical procedures or dressings (in consultation with nursing staff)
The Centre also provides approved access to antiviral therapies for patients at risk of developing severe symptoms or death due to the COVID-19 virus.
Referrals
We accept GP and specialist referrals:
- Use The RMH GP Referral Form or a template from your own system
- Complete and fax your referral to Specialist Clinics (Outpatients) on (03) 9342 4234
We do not accept email referrals.
What to include in your referral
As outlined by the Department of Health, referral requests should include:
- Patient demographic information
- Referrer demographic information
- Reason for referral
- Presenting problem
- Service(s) requested
- Required referral information specified by statewide or local referral criteria
- Current patient management
- Impact of the problem on the patient
- Name of the consultant and provider number (for Medicare clinics)
- Investigation reports related to the referral
Urgent and after-hours support
Referrals are triaged based on priority. In an emergency, patients can go to the Emergency & Trauma Service at any time.
For advice, urgent referrals and out of hours support, call The RMH Switchboard on (03) 9342 7000 to page our registrar on call.
Differentiating eligibility and appropriateness for treatment is essential.
Access the Australian guidelines for the clinical care of people with COVID-19 to ensure whether Paxlovid® or remdesivir are appropriate for your patient.
You should also check that the patient is eligible for Paxlovid® via the PBS.
Important considerations for determining suitability for Paxlovid®. The patient must:
- Be within 5 days of symptom onset (symptoms start day 0)
- Meet PBS criteria
- Not be allergic to Paxlovid® components
- Not be pregnant
- Have no severe liver impairment
- Have renal (kidney) function greater than 30mL/min
- If above 60mL/min the patient can have full dose if they meet the criteria
- If between 30ml/min - 60mL/min the patient can have reduced dose if they meet the criteria
- Be above 40kg
- Be able to swallow tablets whole
- Not be at risk of any drug interactions - refer to the University of Liverpool Covid-19 drug interaction checker.
If the patient is eligible for Paxlovid® and it is appropriate, issue the patient a PBS prescription to fill at their local pharmacy.
You can also prescribe molnupiravir as an alternative if eligible under the PBS.
If the patient is not suitable for Paxlovid® they may be appropriate for remdesivir infusions at the COVID-19 Infusion Centre.
PBS
The Victorian COVID Therapies PBS Prescriber Helpline supports PBS prescribers in the prescription of oral antivirals nirmatrelvir and ritonavir (Paxlovid®) and molnupiravir (Lagevrio®) to COVID-19 patients within the community.
You can call the helpline on (03) 8290 3801 between 8am and 5pm every day.
HealthPathways Melbourne provides guidance on best practice assessment and management of common medical conditions, including when and where to refer patients.
Parkville Connect is a secure web-based portal providing GPs, specialists and other health professionals with information in the Parkville electronic medical record (EMR).
Need to change or cancel your appointment?
Do one of the following:
- Access Health Hub to change the appointment yourself
- Complete our online form and we'll change it for you
- Call Specialist Clinics (Outpatients) on (03) 9342 7393 and we'll help you over the phone
What to bring
Every time you come
Every time you come in for a test, day procedure, surgery or treatment, you should bring:
- Medicare card
- Health Care card (if you have one)
- Concession card (if you have one)
- Adverse drug alert card (if you have one)
- Medications you are currently taking, including any that you have bought without a prescription
- X-ray films, scans, ultrasounds or any other test results you have which are related to your procedure
- Private health insurance card (if you want to use it)
- Aids (glasses, hearing aid, walking frame)
For a clinic appointment
If you come for a clinic appointment, you should also bring:
- Your appointment letter
- Any special items listed on your letter
- Your appointment book
- TAC or WorkCover claim number
Interpreters & cultural support
We provide qualified, professional interpreters to help you communicate with us at any time during your stay and at your clinic appointments.
- Μάθετε περισότερα γιά διερμηνείς & υποστήριξη κουλτούρας
- Scopri di più sugli interpreti e sul supporto culturale
- Tercümanlar ve kültürel destek hakkında daha fazla bilgi edinmek için
- Tìm hiểu thêm về thông dịch viên và hỗ trợ văn hóa
- 找出更多翻译与文化支持的信息
- لمزيدٍ من المعلومات عن خدمة الترجمة الشفهية والخدمات الثقافية
Building 22
34-54 Poplar Rd, Parkville, Victoria