Hi everyone,

Austin ICU has received the green light to start hosting external candidates for hot case practices with strict COVID-safe guidelines! Some sessions have been posted already – we will be aiming to largely host our usual Friday 12pm time until the exam.

Procedures to follow:
- Complete Austin Hospital DHHS visitor check-in on arrival (please allow extra time for this)
- Complete Austin ICU Hot Case Check-in – QR code posters will be posted at the ICU entrance
- Comply with Austin ICU current PPE standards for clinical areas: N95 mask and Face-shields for all in clinical areas
- Complete Austin ICU Hot Case Check-out – QR code poster will be posted at ICU exit to stamp your departure

For those from “high risk work premise” – e.g. those from streaming centres who have been caring for confirmed/high risk COVID patients
- as per current DHHS guidelines:
– need to complete 3 days off prior to attending Austin
– need to have a negative COVID swab in the 48hrs prior to attending Austin – please email this to me (Emily.Harman@austin.org.au) before coming in
– this will all be covered in your ICU check-in declaration!
Check-in form: https://forms.office.com/r/8WLtQwwi8e

For streaming site candidates – we understand that you may not be able to make Friday at 12pm given the extra steps you need to follow. Please email me directly if you cannot make any of the practice sessions posted and I will try and negotiate a time for you with our consultant group (Emily.Harman@austin.org.au).

Finally, please be patient with the limited amount of practice available outside of your own workplace. Hopefully some other ICUs may be able to start hosting external candidates soon as well, but there are many hospital executive and Infection Control hoops to jump through! I would like to assure you that there is lots of work going on in the background by unit Directors, CICM, VRC and VICEN reps with DHHS to advocate for those of you completing your exams and to try and make this as easy as possible!

Best of luck with your preparation.

Kind regards,
Emily Harman
Austin Intensivist
Hot Case Central creator
Emily.Harman@austin.org.au
evharman@hotmail.com
0419319004