Hospital in the Home (HITH) offers professional nursing care & support services in the comfort of your own home.
Hospital in the Home (HITH) gives you the opportunity to continue hospital treatment in your home (including nursing homes), or other suitable locations. While you are a patient on HITH you remain an ‘in-patient’ of the hospital and remain under the care of a hospital doctor.
The HITH team at South West Healthcare are a highly qualified team of Nursing, Allied Health and Medical professionals. The team provide comprehensive care for a range of South West Healthcare patients with acute care requirements that can be managed at home.
We look after patients across the South West Victoria Region and can outsource nursing care if you live outside the Warrnambool area.
There is no cost for people with Medicare.
Patient information
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How to access this service
To access this service you must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Care must be able to be delivered between 7.30am and 8.30pm
- Clear management plan must be documented (reason for admission) in the medical history
- Admitting consultant / unit
- Plan of care
- Reportable parameters (include point of contact for treating unit)
- Plans and time frame for medical and / or nursing review by HITH
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What to bring
- Current Medical Hospital in the Home Health Record (any charts, or documents)
- Any medical supplies related to the Hospital in the Home admission
- Support person
- Some body to provide transport if appropriate
- any questions they may have regarding their health care journey
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What are my responsibilities as a HITH patient?
- Be available when HITH contacts you via your chosen phone number.
- Be home or at the clinic at the agreed time for your HITH care.
- Attend medical reviews as booked.
- Go to the hospital when necessary and if requested by your HITH coordinator team.
- Provide a clean work area for your care at home (e.g. table/bench top & rubbish bag).
- Provide outdoor lighting for evening visits.
Please provide safe access to nursing staff visiting your home by:
- Securing all pets
- Refraining from smoking at least 1 hour prior and while nurses are visiting
- Have your wound care products ready
- If your nurse is visiting in the evening please ensure the outside light is on and pathway clear
- Please provide an environment that is safe for the nurse to attend to your care
- Please treat your nurse with courtesy
- South West Health Care has Zero tolerance to aggressive behaviour
- Nursing visits maybe ceased or placed on hold if the nurses safety is at risk
- Let your nurse know any relevant or updated information about your health and circumstances. Such as if you have been to the doctor or specialist.
We will tell your GP when you are discharged from HITH
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After your appointment
If you will not be home for a planned nursing visit please advise the nursing service at least the day prior where possible. This will allow the nursing service to reschedule the visit.
Health Professionals
Range of Service
HITH offers a range of services that substitute those available in the acute hospital setting. The range of services offered is limited by practical and safety requirements. Services include
- Provision of nursing appropriate to the model of care
- Provision of medical review
- Provision of allied heath services including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work, speech pathology and dietetics
- 24 hour emergency telephone support and access to face-to-face
- Provision of pharmaceuticals
- Hotel services, accommodation and personal care are provided where an unmet need exists and is directly related to the acute admission
- Use an interdisciplinary approach through collaborative goal setting and shared resources
Refer a patient
For more information on the referral process or to discuss a referral contact the HITH team in operating hours on (03) 5564 4174
We accept GP, external hospital and specialist referrals
Eligibility Criteria:
- Have a South West Healthcare admitting medical officer.
- A safe and appropriate environment for care to be delivered
- Telephone access
- Adequate carer support
- Care must be able to be delivered between 7.30am and 8.30pm
Page last updated: 2 January 2024
