Thread by @DrGrinzi

Thank you 2 all hard-working MATOD/ORT prescribers.
As MATOD/ ORT prescribers we are in a position to help reduce community spread by the way we work. An informal group of committed people put together some unofficial (at this stage) guidelines.
Here are our suggestions:

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SCRIPT DURATION - give *up to* 6m duration scripts (in the event you become unwell to give time for a replacement to be found).
BUDDY / DELEGATE - particularly important for solo practitioners to have a colleague who can cover them in the event that they become unwell. 2/6

TAKE AWAYS - increase take aways for stable patients: *up to* 1 month for #Suboxone, *up to* 1-2 weeks for #Methadone
Ongoing risk assessment is essential.

NALOXONE - give all patients scripts for Nyxiod or Prenoxad. #Naloxone education found here: bit.ly/COPEnaloxone 3/6

TELEHEALTH - try to conduct as many consultations via #Telehealth as possible. ( We are fortunate that @RACGPPresident, @amapresident & others got this off the ground so quickly). All our patients have a chronic disease which puts them at increased risk of #COVID19 COVID19 4/6

These actions can reduce patients congregating at clinics and pharmacies which in turn helps to protect:

- patients and their families/ friends
- yourself and clinic staff
- pharmacists and their staff
- wider community by reducing spread
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Thanks to @DrSuziNielsen and a bunch of other awesome colleagues to helping put this together.

@RACGP @ACRRM @TheRACP @RANZCP @cameronsloy @HRV_Aust @hapn_news @orticare @cohealth_au @drhesterwilson @psa_vic @PharmGuildAus @LizSturgiss @PeningtonNews