We are in full telehealth and social distancing mode! #COVID-19
As the daily announcements continue to dramatically change the way we all work and live, we thought that we should give you an update from CANCER SPECIALISTS as we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
I am really pleased to say that our team are all doing a fantastic job adjusting to the really important principles of social distancing, while still maintaining the best possible care for all our patients.
Krystal, Practice Manager at Cancer Specialists, has rolled out an excellent social distancing plan across both our Richmond and Parkville sites which includes:
- Reduction of waiting room capacity with distancing of seats
- Removal of our tea/coffee facilities
- Removal of reading materials
Also, our seven strong administration team are now set up to work from home as much as possible, and we have adjusted our workspaces so that whoever is at work, is well separated from colleagues and patients. It is strangely quiet!!
Telehealth has always been something that we have offered to our many patients who live well away from Melbourne, including Interstate and International patients. With the recent change to MBS criteria, it is now easier than ever to do Telehealth, and our clinicians are extremely keen to offer to this to as many patients as possible. As you know, all our clinicians also work at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (with many of us having Director roles there), and we are very keen across both Peter Mac and Cancer Specialists to keep people away from the hospital and Cancer Specialists as much as possible.
So you will find that our admin team will offer almost all patients a telehealth option, either by Skype (Skype: cancerspecialists) or telephone.
Of course, if you need to be seen for clinical reasons, or would really prefer a face-to-face appointment, then we are very happy to welcome you. But our very high uptake of Telehealth already means that at least if you do need a face-to-face appointment, that it should be in an eerily quiet setting! Our specialists are increasingly consulting in our offices on our own, armed with computers and telephones, or indeed doing so from home, to maintain our strategy of maximum social distancing.
So please be reassured that if you need to consult with one of our team, we are very happy to do so by Telehealth, or in person. Just speak to our admin team when you make your booking. You will also find that our text messaging system will also offer you this option when it sends out reminders
Stay well!!
Professor Declan Murphy
Consultant Urologist | Cancer Specialists | Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
@declangmurphy @cancerspec