Referral
In order to access Western Health's PAC program, hospital staff, together with the patient and/or carer, need to prepare a discharge care plan and then refer to the Access Unit using the community services referral form which is available at the following link Community Services Referral Form.pdf (118KB)
A PAC Co-ordinator will then purchase appropriate services, monitor the patient's progress and, at the end of the PAC period, assist with the transition onto community services if appropriate and available.
When referring to PAC, information regarding safety will also be discussed to ensure the home environment is safe for a worker to visit.
Eligibility
To qualify for the Western PAC program, patients must:
- live within the 5 municipalities of the west (Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melton, Wyndham)
- be medically stable and been assessed as safe to bedischarged, and
- need short term services to assist with recuperation or transition to an identified continuing service.
Patients living outside the Western PAC catchment area should contact the regional PAC provider to check their eligibility as services may vary between geographic catchments depending on waiting lists and availability of staff.
PAC accepts referrals from acute, subacute and emergency departments of all Victorian public hospitals. Patients from private hospitals are ineligible.