Croydon: HealthMint clinic, Donwood Aged Care get inventive during coronavirus
Health providers in Melbourne’s outer east are getting inventive during the coronavirus outbreak – with creations including a hands-free GP clinic and family meetings in shipping containers.
Outer East
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A health clinic has gone hands free and a retirement village is organising family celebrations in shipping containers as Croydon health services get inventive during the coronavirus outbreak.
HealthMint Medical Centre opened its second location at the Croydon Central Shopping Centre in July, with its owners describing it as Melbourne’s first “hands free” GP clinic.
The centre doesn’t have a reception desk and instead patients book their appointments at home or online, or staff fill out a form on arrival.
Doctors also consult with patients using tablet computers and swing tables staying 1.5m apart, or they connect via telehealth or video conference appointments.
Founder Dr Paul Tescher said the hands-free experience “adds another layer of patient safety and care”, while co-founder Chantelle Brott said the centre wanted patients to feel as comfortable as possible.
“We want our patients to feel safe from the moment they enter the clinics, our patient focused model gives people confidence their health is our priority at this difficult time.”
Meanwhile, Donwood Community Aged Care’s ‘connection pods’ has been a major hit since they opened in April.
The health care provider brought two shipping containers on site and fitted them out with microphones, tables and chairs and a glass wall in the middle.
Visitors and residents go in opposite sides and are able to chat to each other for up to an hour.
Donwood Community Aged Care Service chief executive Natasha Wilkinson said the pods had been “a godsend” for its 105 residents during the second wave of the virus outbreak.
She said they had been used to celebrate occasions including birthdays and wedding anniversaries, and a handy alternative for those struggling with video calling.
“Even though it’s behind glass, you can still see the person in their entirety,” Ms Wilkinson said.
“It’s booked out seven days a week, and they (residents) love being able to be connected.”
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