How Dalby medical centres adapted to COVID-19

Myall Medical Practice has made changes to their operation in the face of Covid-19.

Myall Medical’s manager Marlena Hoskin

THE coronavirus has forced significant changes upon Dalby’s local businesses throughout the past five weeks

For Myall Medical Practice, staff have had to adapt their regular routines in the face of this crisis.

Practice manager Marlena Hoskin said Covid-19 has redefined how the practice operates.

“It required us to make significant changes to the way that we do business,” she said.

“Because we are taking all of these measures, our building is a safe place.”

The practice has been open and operating for 30 years and is owned by five of the General Practitioners.

The medical centre is the base for 13 GPs, four registered nurses and five enrolled nurses and 11 admin staff

When most industries are struggling from the economic shockwave created by social distancing measures, the medical practice is operating at full speed.

“We’ve been very pleased to say that we’ve been able to maintain our workforce,” Mrs Hoskin said.

“I can only say how proud I am of our whole practice team.

“It’s been a significant effort from every area of our practice to… meet the Covid-19 requirements.”

One of the changes included a new screening process when patients enter the building.

Patients are now asked whether they’ve had any respiratory symptoms and if so, they may be asked to wait in their car.

Doctors now conduct many of their appointments via teleconference to avoid unnecessary contact.

“The telephone model is very tiring for [the doctors] but they’re really missing seeing their patients,” Mrs Hoskin said.

“That face-to-face connection with patients is really missed.”

The clinic will be adopting a new online platform in the future to improve their remote services.

Waiting rooms have also been rearranged so that all chairs are at least 1.5 metres away from each other.

Parents are currently only able to bring in one child each.

Those who may be at risk of having Covid-19 will be treated in one of two air locked rooms in the clinic.

One of Myall Medical’s two rooms for treating fever patients

Despite these changes, Myall Medical has maintained their routine trading hours.

“We are here and open,” Mrs Hoskin said.

“We do not want people to neglect their routine health.”

Myall Medical’ opening hours are from 7am – 7pm on Monday – Thursday, 7am – 5pm on Friday, 8am – 4pm on Saturday and 10am – 2pm on Sunday.

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