Anaphylaxis Action Plans FAQs - Qoctor your quick online doctor

How long will I wait to get an appointment?

aifricboylan — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 06:42:42 +0000

If you need to request an asthma action plan, an allergy action plan or an anaphylaxis action plan from Qoctor, you’ll usually be able to book your video appointment and, if approved by the doctor, get your document downloaded- all within a few hours. Occasionally, if you happen to be booking late in the day, you may need to wait till the following morning for the next available consultation.

Once your consultation is complete and the doctor has approved the action plan, the document can be downloaded immediately, so you’ll be able to provide it to your child’s school or childcare provider as soon as possible.

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For an asthma action plan or allergy/anaphylaxis/ASCIA action plan, what age groups can be assessed by Qoctor?

aifricboylan — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 06:33:13 +0000

Qoctor can provide consultations for asthma, allergy and anaphylaxis action plans to children aged 3 years and above, subject to the online assessment with the doctor.

Please note, if your child has poorly managed symptoms and/or is having a lot of episodes of their asthma/allergy/anaphylaxis, it is likely that you will be advised to see a doctor in person instead, in which case a refund can be offered.

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What action should be taken in the case of anaphylaxis?

aifricboylan — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 06:21:36 +0000

1- LAY THE PERSON FLAT – do NOT allow them to stand or walk
• If unconscious or pregnant, place in recovery position- on left side if pregnant
• If breathing is difficult allow them to sit with legs outstretched
• Hold young children flat, not upright
2 GIVE ADRENALINE INJECTOR
3 Phone ambulance – 000 (AU) or 111 (NZ)
4 Phone family/emergency contact
5 Further adrenaline may be given if no response after 5 minutes
6 Transfer person to hospital for at least 4 hours of observation
IF IN DOUBT GIVE ADRENALINE INJECTOR
Commence CPR at any time if person is unresponsive and not breathing normally

ALWAYS GIVE ADRENALINE INJECTOR FIRST, and then asthma
reliever puffer if someone with known asthma and allergy to food, insects or
medication has SUDDEN BREATHING DIFFICULTY (including wheeze, persistent
cough or hoarse voice) even if there are no skin symptoms

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What are the symptoms of anaphylaxis?

aifricboylan — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 06:04:43 +0000

Symptoms & signs of anaphylaxis include

Tight or constricted breathing
Swelling of the tongue
Difficulty speaking and sometimes a hoarse voice
Swelling or tightness in the throat
Rapid heart rate and low blood pressure
Loss of consciousness/collapse
Pale appearance and floppiness in small children or babies

Sometimes there may be milder signs of allergy before the above symptoms start, which can include:

A tingling sensation around the lips or mouth.
Hives or welts
Abdominal pain and vomiting (although these are viewed as signs of anaphylaxis in the case of insect allergy)

In around 1 in 5 cases, there may be a second bout of anaphylaxis within 12 hours of the first. This is called biphasic anaphylaxis.

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What is an ASCIA action plan?

aifricboylan — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 05:55:48 +0000

Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) was established in 1990 as the peak professional body of clinical immunology/allergy specialists in Australia and New Zealand. ASCIA action plans are standardised documents that allow parents, carers and teachers to take the correct steps to recognise and treat allergies and anaphylaxis affecting children under their care.

Allergic diseases are amongst the fastest growing chronic disease and public health issues in Australia, affecting around 20% of the population. They include food, insect and drug allergies, asthma, allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and eczema. The most severe type of allergic reaction is known as anaphylaxis, which is potentially life threatening.

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Who can use an adrenaline autoinjector? Is special training necessary?

aifricboylan — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 04:09:25 +0000

Adrenaline autoinjectors are designed to be given by non-medical people, such as parents, school and childcare staff, friends, passers-by or the allergic person themselves (if they are well and old enough). Adrenaline autoinjector devices contain a single, fixed dose of adrenaline that works rapidly to reverse the episode of anaphylaxis. Instructions regarding correct use are included on the device labels, and on ASCIA Action Plans

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Can Qoctor offer bulk-billing or Medicare rebates?

aifricboylan — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 04:03:29 +0000

No, unfortunately Qoctor cannot offer a Medicare rebate for telehealth. This is due to Medicare regulations in place since early in the COVID-19 pandemic, which state that a patient must have seen a doctor in person within the past 12 months for a Medicare rebate to be applied to most telehealth appointments. Therefore, as a fully online telehealth service, Qoctor can not offer Medicare rebates. However, Qoctor aims to keep services as affordable and accessible as possible, providing same day appointments in most cases.

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How much does it cost to have a telehealth appointment to discuss an allergy or anaphylaxis action plan?

aifricboylan — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 03:58:53 +0000

The cost of a telehealth appointment to discuss an ASCIA allergy or anaphylaxis action plan (including the video consultation with the doctor) is $31.99.

If a patient wishes to also get a prescription for a new adrenaline autoinjector (Epipen) at the same time as the action plan, the total cost is $36.99.

It is a fully private service. Unfortunately Qoctor is unable to offer bulk-billing for telehealth consultations, as Medicare rules dictate that the doctor must have seen the patient face to face within the previous 12 months for a rebate to be applied for most telehealth services. This is obviously not possible for a fully online telehealth provider such as Qoctor. However, we strive to keep our service accessible and affordable for all.

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Do Allergy action plans and Anaphylaxis action plans expire?

aifricboylan — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 03:52:00 +0000

ASCIA Action Plans do not expire- the plan is actually still valid beyond the “review date”, which is just a guide for patients to see their doctor. Ideally, ASCIA Action Plans should be reviewed when patients are reviewed by their doctor and/or each time they obtain a new adrenaline autoinjector (Epipen) prescription, which is generally every 12 to 18 months. If there are no changes in a person’s condition or treatment, the medical information on the ASCIA Action Plan may not need to be changed. However, if the patient is a child, the photo should be updated regularly, so they can be easily identified.

For more information on anaphylaxis and action plans, check out the ASCIA website.

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What is an Anaphylaxis Action Plan?

aifricboylan — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 03:46:42 +0000

ASCIA Action Plans were first developed in 2003 to standardise the recognition of signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and provide easy to follow steps for the emergency treatment of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. They continue to be used as the standard action plans throughout Australia and New Zealand. The content is regularly reviewed by experts and updated as necessary.

Qoctor uses up to date ASCIA templates for all action plans.

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