Western Health services that treat and care for patients in the hospital and at home with COVID-19 have reached the fantastic fives.
In just five months, more than 5000 COVID positive patients received care in the community.
At the same time 500 vulnerable patients benefited from treatments designed to tackle the virus.
And 500 COVID positive patients have received dialysis at Victoria's first dialysis clinic for patients with kidney failure.
Project Lead for the COVID Pathways Program and the Infusion Clinic Tessa Johnson said during the Omicron outbreak the team was monitoring 500 patients in the community with the virus at any given time.
"Patients start out receiving two phone calls a day from a nurse and, depending on their individual needs, they move into community monitoring, which is Allied Health led care," she said.
"In addition to daily monitoring, nursing staff could access medical support for advice, as well as pharmacy support which could involve delivering medications to patient's homes.
"They also had access to a 24 hour nursing number, in case they had needed additional assistance."
The team tapped into staff from across the health service, including staff from chronic and complex health nursing team and the community based rehabilitation team.
There were also 30 Registered Undergraduate Nursing students who worked under the direct supervision of Registered Nurses.
"One of the most exciting parts of the Pathways Program is that it has been designed to be scalable- it's a service that is capable of quickly responding to the health needs of the community," Tessa said.
"We have also shared our model of care with other health services in Victoria, who would like to replicate its success."
The feedback from patients has been positive.
"One patient thanked us from the bottom of his heart for all the care he received from the 'absolute heroes' of this service," she said.
"I really needed the support and was so grateful to get it."
Another patient said that she was extremely grateful for having access to the Sotrovimab clinic, which she reports "is like a miracle drug" that improved most of her symptoms within 48 hours."
In the Infusion Clinic, more than 500 doses of Sotrovimab and Ronapreve have been delivered to patients since it launched on November 3, 2021.
"These monoclonal antibodies are not a substitute for vaccination and there is only a short window of opportunity to deliver the infusions- the first five days since the onset of symptoms for Sotrovimab and seven days for Ronapreve," Tessa said.
"Sotrovimab is now the gold standard. It's a 30 minute intravenous infusion in our clinic, followed by a one hour observation period.
"It has been vital in reducing the risk of patients suffering severe disease and being admitted to hospital."
To be eligible to receive Sotrovimab, patients must be COVID positive and partially vaccinated, unvaccinated or immunosuppressed, such as cancer patients and people with illnesses that include Crohn's disease or Rheumatoid Arthritis.
People who have comorbidities, such as a chronic health condition such as diabetes, or who have had a transplant or are receiving dialysis are also suitable candidates for this treatment.
Patient's in Melbourne's West were the first in the state to receive care in a dialysis clinic dedicated to kidney patients with a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 diagnosis.
Acting operations manager renal services Kylie Simoni said without the clinic at Sunshine Hospital patients would need to be admitted in an inpatient bed.
"There are four dialysis chairs and each is located in a separate room," Kylie said.
"Patients are protected by the McMonty Medihood, a transparent, plastic cover fitted over a hospital bed and the upper body of a patient that was developed by Western Health and the University of Melbourne."
"It has been so rewarding to be able to provide this essential life-saving treatment to our patients during the pandemic."
Western Health complex care divisional director Kirsty Barnes said the three programs showcased the way that Western Health innovated during the pandemic to provide the best care to patients.
"The milestones that we have achieved in the Pathways Program, the Infusion Clinic and the Dialysis Clinic have only been possible thanks to a huge effort from almost every team from across the health service.
"It's been one of the most challenging and rewarding times in most of our careers, but we can all be proud of our achievements."
Project Lead for the COVID Pathways Program and the Infusion Clinic Tessa Johnson, Western Health complex care divisional director Kirsty Barnes and Acting Operations Manager Renal Services Kylie Simoni.
