CoVID-19 Resources

This is a list of curated resources to assist you through the CoVID-19 Pandemic. It will be updated as appropriate.

First Published 11 April, 2020. Updated 7 Jun, 2020.

Key Objectives

The key objectives as we navigate this pandemic are: (1) to slow the spread of the coronavirus and 2) to prevent our healthcare system from collapsing. It is empowering to know that we can all contribute to this by staying home, social distancing, and practising exceptional hygiene.

Hygiene

The coronavirus is highly contagious and is transmitted from person to person through respiratory secretions – Large droplets from coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, saliva.¹ Good hand and respiratory hygiene are crucial in preventing the spread of infection.²

Hand Hygiene

One of the most effective ways to protect yourself and others from the coronavirus is frequent hand washing with soap and water. Alcohol-based handrub with a minimum concentration of 60% alcohol is also effective.³

Effective-Hand-Washing-MoveMedics
Effective-Use-of-Hand-Sanitiser-MoveMedics

Respiratory Hygiene

When you sneeze, droplets erupts from your mouth and nose at up to 150 km/h and spray droplets up to 1.5m in the direction you’re facing.

This slow-motion video demonstrates how violent and gross sneezing is. Coughing is less violent but just as gross.

You’re essentially a little volcano erupting every time you sneeze, but instead of spraying lava, you’re spraying potentially infectious droplets everywhere.

This is precisely why we practise social distancing at a minimum of 1.5m.

Cough and Sneeze Etiquette

Good cough and sneeze etiquette helps to protect those around you from catching your spittles.

◆ Cough and sneeze into the crook of your elbow/upper sleeve, NOT your hands.

◆ Cough and sneeze into a tissue, throw the tissue away and wash your hands.

◆ Covering one’s mouth with their hands when they cough, sneeze, burp, clear their throat… etc has long been considered good manners, however, good manners is not good hygiene. This habit will take time to change. If you do reflexively cough/sneeze into your hands, it’s ok, WASH THEM IMMEDIATELY!

MoveMedics’ Pandemic Support Posts

Here’re our blog posts written specifically in response to the CoVID-19 Pandemic. This will be updated as new posts are published.

◆ We Are In This Together – The CoVID-19 Pandemic

◆ Is Physio an Essential Service?

◆ Finding Your New Normal

◆ So The Curve Is Flat, Now What?

◆ 3 Tips To Pole Injury Free After Lockdown

Mental Health

We’re facing a complex and challenging time. It is absolutely OK to feel everything you’re feeling right now, take your time and process it one baby step at a time in your own time. It’s more important than ever to look after your mental health and remember, this WILL end. Here’re my 5 personal tips for you:

1. Turn it all off
Make sure you’ve time away from news and social media to minimise overwhelm.

2. Move
If you can, go for a walk outside for some fresh air and sunlight. If you’re can’t, YouTube has a plethora of exercise for you to sample.

3. Mindfulness
Try meditation and mindful breathing to assist in stress management. 

◆ Oak – Meditation and Breathing iOS App

◆ Free teachings and meditations – Eckhart Tolle

◆ The 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique
For each step, either write, think, or say aloud the sensations you’re observing.List 5 things you can SEE right now.List 4 things you can HEAR right now.List 3 things you can FEEL right now.List 2 things you can SMELL right now.

List 1 things you’re GRATEFUL for or 1 things you can TASTE right now.

4. Do something that brings you joy every day

5. Eat well, stay hydrated, and sleep lots to support your immune system 

When it gets too heavy, be sure to reach out to your GP or other organisations such has Lifeline and Beyond Blue for help. Remember, you are never alone!

◆ Beyond Blue Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service

Telehealth

Important!

Should you become ill and are experiencing the common symptoms of CoVID-19 – fever, dry cough, fatigue, shortness of breath. You must seek medical attention and be tested for the virus. Anyone with respiratory symptoms can now be tested. It is essential that you first phone your GP and make the appropriate arrangement with them prior to your visit. You can also call the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080 for assistance.

It is extremely pleasing to see the Federal Government responded quickly and rolled out telehealth services for Australians in order to facilitate continuation of care, to helping reduce the risk of community transmission of CoVID-19, and to provide protection for patients and healthcare providers.

Currently, there’re temporary telehealth services for a broad range of health services provisioned under Medicare, DVA, and WorkCover until 30 September, 2020, and Private Health Insurances until 30 Jun, 2020. These will be reviewed before the proposed end date. Hopefully, telehealth will be here to stay!

Tele-Physiotherapy

Where physiotherapy is concerned, new patients under both Medicare and Private Health require GP or specialist referral to access telehealth.

Private Health

Here’re the key takeaway outlined in the media release by Private Healthcare Australia – “Australian Health Funds Announce Tele-Physiotherapy Consultations

◆ The customer is undergoing an existing course of treatment and the customer has seen the physiotherapist over the past six months, or

◆ For new patients, the tele-physiotherapy service has been recommended by their general practitioner or relevant medical specialist, and

◆ The primary condition being treated is one of:

◆ Post orthopaedic surgery rehabilitation (e.g. Total hip or knee replacement)

◆ Chronic musculoskeletal condition (e.g. osteoarthritis)

◆ Cardiac rehabilitation

◆ Pulmonary rehabilitation, or

◆ Pelvic floor muscle training,

◆ The service is delivered before 30 September 2020, and

◆ The service is undertaken in accordance with Australian Physiotherapy Association guidelines.

Based on currently available information, each private health funds also have their own specific terms and conditions regarding tele-physio rebate.

Please refer to your fund for your specific eligibility requirement.

A list of health funds with confirmed support for telehealth for physiotherapy.

Medicare

For Medicare funded telehealth services, please see Department of Health’s CoVID-19 Telehealth Services Consumer Factsheet.

Telehealth Providers

Here’s a non-exhaustive list of telehealth practitioners in Australia. Please note these are not affiliates of MoveMedics, it is provided as a convenience to you.

Medical 

◆ GP2U

◆ DOCTO – 24 hour online hospital

◆ My Emergency Dr

◆ Dermo Direct – Dermotologists

Allied Health

◆ Online Physio

◆ Hearing Collective – Online Hearing Service

◆ Spot. – Online Speech Therapy

◆ Therapy Connect – Multidisciplinary

◆ Ashleigh Jones Nutrition & Dietetics

◆ Brave Pelvic Health – Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy

Dental

◆ ViDe – Virtual Dental 

References

1. Thomas P, Baldwin C, Bissett B, Boden I, Gosselink R, Granger CL, Hodgson C, Jones AY, Kho ME, Moses R, Ntoumenopoulos G, Parry SM, Patman S, van der Lee L, Physiotherapy management for COVID-19 in the acute hospital setting: clinical practice recommendations, Journal of Physiotherapy (2020), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphys.2020.03.011.

2. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by Dr Gregory Brogan, Dr Neil Campbell, Dr Matthew Durie and Dr Chris Nickson, last update April 7, 2020. Life In The Fast Lane – https://litfl.com/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/

3. National Hand Hygiene Initiative Manual. Hand Hygiene Australia – https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-03/nhhi_user_manual_-_october_2019.pdf

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