OUR SERVICES
Hospital in the Home Program
Hospital in the Home (HITH) provides care in the home that would otherwise need to be delivered onsite at PDH as an admitted patient. It provides admitted care in the comfort of the patient's home or another suitable location as an alternative to an in-hospital stay - patients are still regarded as admitted hospital inpatients and remain under the care of their hospital doctor, with care provided by nurses, doctors, or allied health professionals, and additional home supports arranged as required.
Research shows patients have improved outcomes and recovery at home with fewer complications such as infection, delirium and confusion. HITH is staffed by a multidisciplinary mix of nursing, medical and allied health staff. Patients can be offered this option if the care they need can be delivered safely at home. Participation is voluntary and there is no additional charge to patients.
Admission criteria - patients requiring: administration of IV antibiotics; CVC/Port/PICC line management; administration of anticoagulant therapy; chronic disease management including acute or chronic obstructive airways disease; wound care; asthma; diabetes stabilisation; peripheral vascular disease; electrolyte imbalance monitoring; pre-operative treatments; post-operative care such as drain tube maintenance; and complex wound care including VACC dressings.
PDH Staff may transfer patients to HITH Services, and other hospitals may transfer patients to the PDH HITH program (utilising a doctor with admitting rights to PDH). The admission criteria is governed by the Department of Health's Victorian hospital admission policy - HITH can be accessed by any admitted patient of a public hospital who is assessed as clinically stable, appropriately supported in the home, living in a suitable environment with access to a telephone, and suitable and willing to be treated through HITH.
Portland District Health's Hospital in the Home Program operates 7 days a week, 8:30am to 5:00pm.
To inquire about the program, contact the Hospital in the Home Manager on (03) 5521 0524 or email hith.pdh@swarh.vic.gov.au. Portland District Health is located at Bentinck Street, Portland VIC 3305, main phone (03) 5521 0333.
REFERRALS & ENQUIRIES
Intake Team
Monday - Friday, office hours
(03) 5521 0333
GET IN TOUCH
(03) 5521 0333
Main reception, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Bentinck Street
Portland VIC 3305
