Western Health at Home (WH@H) provides Hospital In The Home (HITH) services for the Medical and Surgical units at Western, Sunshine and The Williamstown Hospital. Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) provides the nursing component for patients in receipt of the Western Health at Home program.

The Western Health at Home team provides a large range of care to clients, including, but not limited to the following:

Administration of Antibiotic therapy via PICC line, cannula, pump device or peritoneal dialysis.
Complex wound management
Drain tube care
Anti-coagulation therapy

The care provided includes ongoing monitoring, education and support for patients and carers in the home. RDNS nurses liaise with WHatH Liaison who then raise any concerns with hospital staff (medical, pharmacy and pathology) as appropriate, to meet the needs of patients and carers.

To be eligible for the Western Health @ Home program, patients must meet the following criteria.

Consents to enter the Western Health at Home program voluntarily.
Requires acute inpatient services
Has a readily accessible care (on a 24 hour basis)
Has a clear diagnosis and a stable condition
Receives at least one dosage of all new medication while in hospital
Has a home that is suitable for care to be provided - ie: has a telephone, running water, toilet facilities, adequate bathroom and connected eleictricity.
Has access to transport to attend appointments
Is not a private patient

Western Health @ Home Staff

The Western Health At Home Team Leader and the WH@Home Liaison Team work closely with the referring unit, patient and carer to plan each patients treatment prior to transfer into the Western Health At Home program.

Western Health @ Home Office

The central office of Western Health @ Home is located in the portable building at the Sunshine Hospital campus.

Western Health at Home office operates between the hours of 8:30am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday.

Western Health at Home can be contacted by phone: 8345 1793 or fax: 8345 1794.

If the office is unattended, please leave a message on voicemail.

All campuses of Western Health have designated Western Health @ Home District Nurse Liaison.

After Hours

For patients currently receiving services through Western Health at Home please contact the

RDNS Customer Service Centre on 9379 0577

for advise on issues that may arise for patients, or for after hours enquiries.

At this stage, no after hours referrals are being accepted.

Medications

As Western Health @ Home patients are classified as inpatients, they receive prescribed medications free of charge while on the WH@H program. Medications should be dispensed to the patient at the time of transfer to WH@H. Ward staff arrange for medications to be dispensed, including all dilutents and IV fluids. Pharmacy and/or WH@H Liaison arrange for the HITH drug administration check sheet (if applicable) to be completed at the time medications are dispensed.

Equipment

Initially, supplies are provided by the ward staff to cover the period until the next medical review.

The WH@H team arrange the ongoing supplies.