CESPHN Primary Care Emergency Response Team

Can you help in a disaster?

CESPHN is committed to better preparing our region to respond to disasters or critical incidents that impact health and wellbeing in our community. We recognise our communities’ increasing vulnerability to climate change and other disasters, and learning from recent events we know that preparation is key. We also know primary care providers can play a crucial role in supporting the emergency response in a disaster situation or a critical incident.

To enhance our region’s preparedness and capacity to respond to disasters, CESPHN is establishing a volunteer register for a Primary Care Emergency Response Team (PCERT).

This team has two key objectives:

• Ensure continuity of access to primary care when there is a disaster or critical incident
• Support the emergency response by addressing immediate health needs in a disaster situation.

In the event of a disaster or critical incident that may impact the health and wellbeing of our community PCERT volunteers may be contacted for assistance. The types of events that may require an emergency response could include:

• Natural – bushfires, heatwaves, severe storms, flooding, earthquake
• Public safety threats and major transport accidents
• Hazardous materials accidents
• Major public health threats

Join the Primary Care Emergency Response Team

GPs, practice nurses, mental health care providers and pharmacists are encouraged to register. The PCERT will be flexible and responsive, allowing primary care providers to contribute according to their availability, skills, and the specific demands of each disaster situation. Types of responses include:

• In-Practice Support: Provide care at your own practice to affected individuals, manage minor injuries, and offer ongoing care for chronic conditions.
• Telehealth Services: Deliver remote consultations to patients who cannot access in-person care due to disaster-related disruptions.
• Urgent Care Clinics: Attend one of the designated urgent care clinics in the CESPHN region to assist with managing a potential influx of patients during a disaster.
• Evacuation Centres: Provide care at an evacuation centre that may be established to support people impacted by a disaster.

Involvement in the Primary Care Emergency Response Team may include providing:

• Basic first aid and acute healthcare activities
• Psychological first aid
• Management of chronic conditions
• Prescriptions for medications
• Referrals to a GP practice or nearest hospital emergency department
• Care via telehealth
• Care at Residential Aged Care Homes or Disability Group Homes

Remuneration

Remuneration for primary care providers responding to a disaster or critical incident will be confirmed prior to participating. In some instances, remuneration will be through standard Medicare billing, however there will be mechanisms for CESPHN to provide payments when this is not available. Funding will be made available to support primary care providers to participate in relevant training.

Next Steps

If you would like to register your interest to help in a disaster:

1. Complete the following form
2. You will receive a Pre-Emergency Information Pack with all the information and resources you need.
3. We will let you know when relevant training events are being held
4. In the event of a disaster, you may be contacted to provide support

* All personal details will be securely stored in CESPHN’s customer relationship management system.

Questions?

If you have any questions or to find out more about this initiative, please email disastermanagement@cesphn.com.au