INSIDE GCUH’S CORONA CLINIC

THIS is the Gold Coast fever clinic where Tom Hanks and his wife were confirmed to have the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

One of two now operating in the city, the Gold Coast University Hospital clinic has been testing more than 130 potential coronavirus patients a day, a majority of whom have returned from overseas or been in contact with a confirmed case.

The clinics operate as a completely separate treatment point to the emergency department, in order to keep patients with flu-like symptoms isolated.

When presenting to the hospital, those concerned they may have coronavirus are directed to a desk in the foyer, where they are given a surgical mask and asked to sanitise their hands.

If they meet screening criteria which includes their symptoms, contact with confirmed cases and recent overseas travel, patients are then directed to the fever clinic area on level five.

Cleaned regularly, staff equipped with masks, gowns and goggles work to process patients though a number of check points.

They meet with a triage nurse who analyses their risk factors.

The patient is then swabbed and meets with a doctor.

Individuals are then told to selfisolate until they receive test results 24-48 hours later.

Like other confirmed cases Mr Hanks and wife Rita Wilson would have been contacted directly by health authorities once their test results came back positive.

“A fever clinic is a place where we can assess medically whether patients meet the risk criteria for coronavirus,” GCUH clinical director of emergency and intensive care Dr Audra Gedmintas said.

“It allows us to divert patients away from the emergency department so we can concentrate on our more unwell patients, down in the emergency department and address the needs of those who believe they have the virus in an efficient manner.”

Gold Coast clinics are now operating 12 hours a day.

“We flex up and down on the number of staff required depending on the number of patients and they are being seen within 1-2 hours which is really good result considering the volume.”

It is understood transportation is arranged, and cases are then treated in-house at the GCUH infectious disease ward.

The specially designed ward has been built with negative pressure rooms, an isolation technique used to prevent cross-contamination from room to room.

The GCUH treated some of Queensland’s first cases of coronavirus and has already seen the successful recovery of five coronavirus patients – who have since been released.