Human beings need the company and support of other human beings – no matter how old, or how young we are, being with someone who is comfortable being with you, no matter how you are feeling, is a powerful and restorative experience.
We all need this experience in our daily lives, because, aside from just feeling really nice, it helps us to feel anchored within ourselves.
One of the uplifting aspects of the current health crisis, is that despite all the anxiety and panic around us, we are also seeing courage and generosity of spirit.
We thank our staff, and our clinicians, who come to work because they feel that their contribution is worthwhile, and helpful.
We also appreciate the efforts that you – our clients/patients, and as parents of our younger patients, are making to keep the mental and physical wellbeing of the family sound. Our normal health needs also need care during troubled times, and shouldn’t be neglected.
For some, this will mean you don’t come to the clinic if anyone in the family has cold, flu, or chest symptoms, or if anyone is feeling generally unwell – with gastro symptoms, and loss of appetite or enjoyment of food.
For others, this will mean that you do continue to make appointments, and keep them. We will be doing our best to be available to you. We are prepared to bring as much creativity and flexibility as we can to managing a confidential relationship within the current need for social distancing. Please feel free to talk to your clinician about the options that are available.
The Federal Government is allowing some temporary Telehealth Medicare Items for use if you, or your clinician, is quarantined because of Covid-19. These guidelines are very specific and have to be strictly adhered to. They enable video or phone consultations to be billed against Medicare, even if you don’t live in a rural or remote area. However, they do not allow a rebate if any gap is charged.
It is in your best interests to continue to attend appointments wherever possible. Unless you and your clinician know each other really well, video and phone calls are a poor substitute for being together in person. No limitation has been placed on the usual Medicare rebates for face to face interviews, or for Telehealth consultations for people in rural or remote areas. Any gap you pay continues to contribute to your Family Safety Net threshold. Once reached, your appointments become very affordable indeed, which is important, as mental and emotional well-being go hand in hand with physical well-being.
Now – a bit of advice for managing yourself during the current pandemic of viral anxiety:
-
Wash your hands with soap and hot water whenever you have touched another person, or a publicly-used surface (on anything – animal, vegetable, or mineral!). Hand sanitiser will tide you over, but it’s no substitute for a really good wash.
-
Help your children, whatever their age or their ability, to learn how to keep their hands and faces clean. If they are too young to take too much responsibility for this on their own, make it a fun and positive experience for them. Stay kind, and use your help as a way of demonstrating the love and care you feel for your children. They’ll always remember you for it.
-
As a rule, children under about 7 years of age, but maybe older, if they are very anxious at present, will need your loving help to be able to keep themselves clean enough, often enough. Don’t rush the time you spend together keeping safe.
-
Maintain the specified distance from others outside your household – save one another from sharing unwanted viral travellers. Maintain extra distance if you have any sickness symptoms, or you think you might have been exposed to some.
Finally, DON’T PANIC!!!!
We live in a time and place of excellent medical care, most people recover well from this virus.
Anxiety is very contagious, and not at all good for you, or your relationships with others.
Stay close emotionally, even when you are standing nearly 2 metres apart. It’s about how we can be together that will get us all through.
STAY CALM, and TRAVEL HOPEFULLY
Warm wishes to everyone,
The Elizabeth Clinic Team
