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Flow chart and care protocols as at January 12, 2022

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1. COVID-19 care in the community: flowchart for adults and children
2. COVID-19 care in the community: Care protocols for adults and children

COVID-19 care in the community: flowchart for adults and children

COVID-19 care in the community: Care protocols for adults and children

Low risk patients

Identified during 1^st online questionnaire (short), 2^nd online questionnaire (detailed) or call with symptoms.

Low care pathway

• Patients receive information via Service NSW app
• Escalation phone numbers supplied.

High risk adults and children

• Immunosuppressed
• Serious chronic or complex condition
• Pregnant
• Children with severe obesity

Disease-modifying treatment pathway

• Eligible patients are contacted by LHD
• GPs can refer eligible patients to LHD via National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080.
  

Patients directed to local pathway - See current advice for eligibility:

• National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce
• ACI: Model of care for the use of antiSARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies
• CEC: Medication Safety Updates

High care pathway

Patients with high risk and moderate symptoms are managed by the LHD according to local pathways.

This may include increased monitoring, involvement of patient's specialists.

Consider for disease modifying treatment

Immunosuppressed, including:

• Current or within 3 months of treatment for cancer
• Organ transplant
• Immunosuppressant medication
• Immune deficiency

Serious chronic health problems including heart, lung, kidney, brain, nerves or muscles, metabolic:

• Seeing a specialist 4 or more times per year
• Taking 4 or more different medications daily
• Needing equipment to help their breathing – e.g. CPAP, BiPAP, home oxygen
• Needing equipment to help with their feeding – e.g. nasogastric tube, gastrostomy (PEG)

Severe obesity in children, indicated by weight over 99th percentile for age or Type 2 Diabetes (treated with oral medication)

High care pathway - consider for closer monitoring

Moderate Symptoms (also advised to contact their usual doctor if moderate symptoms)

and

Serious chronic health problems (including heart, lung, kidney, brain, nerves or muscles, metabolic), for example:

• Seeing a specialist 4 or more times per year
• Taking 4 or more different medications daily
• Needing equipment to help their breathing – e.g. CPAP, BiPAP, home oxygen
• Needing equipment to help with their feeding – e.g. nasogastric tube, gastrostomy (PEG)

or

Severe asthma, as indicated by:

• Admitted to hospital 4 or more times in the last year
• Admitted to intensive care because of their asthma (ever)
• On monoclonal treatments for asthma
• Prompt to take their usual preventer medicine, follow their asthma plan, contact their doctor

Document information

Developed by

NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation

Consultation

COVID Care in the Community Subject Matter Expert Reference Group.

Endorsed by

Dr Nigel Lyons, Deputy Secretary, Health System Strategy and Planning, NSW Ministry of Health.

For use by

NSW Health local health districts, specialty health networks and primary health care

Supersedes

• Caring for adults in the community with COVID-19 – Flow chart and care protocols
• Caring for children in the community with COVID-19 – Flowchart and care protocols