COVID-19 Coronavirus Update
Please feel free to download the COVID SAFETY PLAN for our worksite 2/315 New Street BRIGHTON VIC 3186
| covid-safe-plan-02.11.2020.pdf |
Awareness Psychology Clinic has updated policies and procedures in place to help keep our clinic safe and operating:
1. It has been mandated in Victoria, that if patients are able to have their session via Telehealth (online or over the phone), they should. If there is a clinically appropriate reason to have an in-person session, this can still occur, but masks must be worn and the psychologist will need to wear protective eyewear. Please contact us if you believe that you need an in-person session.
2. If you or your psychologist are feeling unwell with cold, flu or respiratory concerns, it is important NOTto attend the clinic. Please call us to reschedule your appointment OR have your appointment either online or over the phone.
3. If you are required to self-isolate due to being diagnosed with COVID-19 you must inform us as soon as possible by text (0413577612) with information on when you have last been at our rooms so that we can also implement required self-isolation.
4. The government has released medicare items specifically for COVID-19 that enable us to provide medicare for services delivered via phone or video link and which enable an extra 10 sessions on top of the current 10 sessions offered (so patients are entitled to 20 sessions per year until March 2021). You will still receive the usual rebate for this service provided you have a valid mental health care plan.
1. It has been mandated in Victoria, that if patients are able to have their session via Telehealth (online or over the phone), they should. If there is a clinically appropriate reason to have an in-person session, this can still occur, but masks must be worn and the psychologist will need to wear protective eyewear. Please contact us if you believe that you need an in-person session.
2. If you or your psychologist are feeling unwell with cold, flu or respiratory concerns, it is important NOTto attend the clinic. Please call us to reschedule your appointment OR have your appointment either online or over the phone.
3. If you are required to self-isolate due to being diagnosed with COVID-19 you must inform us as soon as possible by text (0413577612) with information on when you have last been at our rooms so that we can also implement required self-isolation.
4. The government has released medicare items specifically for COVID-19 that enable us to provide medicare for services delivered via phone or video link and which enable an extra 10 sessions on top of the current 10 sessions offered (so patients are entitled to 20 sessions per year until March 2021). You will still receive the usual rebate for this service provided you have a valid mental health care plan.
5. We are disinfecting surfaces between patients and have spray bottles in each room as well as alcohol wipes.
6. We no longer offer you a ceramic mug for tea/coffee/water. Please BYO water bottle and keep cup to ensure no cross-contamination.
7. Patients must make use of the hand sanitiser and masks in the waiting room if they haven't brought their own or a valid medical exemption certificate is presented. Patients must also submit to a temperature check upon arrival. If temperature is too high, they will be sent home.
8. We are only using rooms 1 and 4 (the large rooms with windows and plenty of space) so that we can spread out.
9. Please be mindful that only two patients at a time are allowed in the reception area. If there are already two people in the reception area when you arrive, you may use room 2 (number on the door) to sit and wait for your appointment (one person or family group in room 2 at a time). The two therapy rooms both support up to 4 people at a time.
We hope that these updates are received well by our patients. We love running our practices and want to be able to keep running them. Let’s work together to keep each other safe and healthy and our practices up and running during this time. We will do our best to update these policies as further recommendations or requirements come to light. Please feel free to discuss these with us if you have any questions or concerns.
Resources:
1. For further information about coronavirus, please visit the government department of health website.
2. The APS has also put together a resource about suffering from anxiety regarding coronavirus. If you're feeling anxious please take a look or chat to us about it.
3. The government Medicare items and requirements for eligibilty.
4. Self isolation requirements can be accessed here.
If you’d like to chat about any of the above. You can reach me on 0413 577 612.
Yours sincerely,
Matthew Csabonyi
Clinical Psychologist
MPsych (Clinical) BPsych (Hons)
Awareness Psychology Clinic
6. We no longer offer you a ceramic mug for tea/coffee/water. Please BYO water bottle and keep cup to ensure no cross-contamination.
7. Patients must make use of the hand sanitiser and masks in the waiting room if they haven't brought their own or a valid medical exemption certificate is presented. Patients must also submit to a temperature check upon arrival. If temperature is too high, they will be sent home.
8. We are only using rooms 1 and 4 (the large rooms with windows and plenty of space) so that we can spread out.
9. Please be mindful that only two patients at a time are allowed in the reception area. If there are already two people in the reception area when you arrive, you may use room 2 (number on the door) to sit and wait for your appointment (one person or family group in room 2 at a time). The two therapy rooms both support up to 4 people at a time.
We hope that these updates are received well by our patients. We love running our practices and want to be able to keep running them. Let’s work together to keep each other safe and healthy and our practices up and running during this time. We will do our best to update these policies as further recommendations or requirements come to light. Please feel free to discuss these with us if you have any questions or concerns.
Resources:
1. For further information about coronavirus, please visit the government department of health website.
2. The APS has also put together a resource about suffering from anxiety regarding coronavirus. If you're feeling anxious please take a look or chat to us about it.
3. The government Medicare items and requirements for eligibilty.
4. Self isolation requirements can be accessed here.
If you’d like to chat about any of the above. You can reach me on 0413 577 612.
Yours sincerely,
Matthew Csabonyi
Clinical Psychologist
MPsych (Clinical) BPsych (Hons)
Awareness Psychology Clinic