Hospital in the Home (HITH)

What we do

The Bendigo Health Hospital in the Home (HITH) program provides individualised and holistic care in a patient’s home that would otherwise be provided in an acute hospital setting as per the Victorian Hospital Admission Policy allowing patients to receive ongoing treatment in the familiar surroundings of their own home.

Examples of Care provided by HITH:

• Central vascular catheter and port care
• Cellulitis
• Osteomyelitis, joint infections etc.
• Intravenous antibiotic administration daily, & twice daily.
• Deep vein thrombosis management (dvt)
• Daily dressings
• Patients requiring anticoagulation therapy, bridging clexane and or re-warfarinisation
• Respiratory infections that do not require oxygen administration due to current condition. Patients with chronic respiratory disease already on oxygen therapy may be considered
• Post-operative surgery – e.g. Minor cases, post-operative drain management, vac therapy

Who we care for

Patient Criteria

Geographical:

• Patient must live within a 30 km radius of Bendigo i.e. Ravenswood, Lockwood South, Lockwood, Marong, Woodvale, Longlea, Strathfieldsaye, Axe Creek, and Sedgwick. Patients outside of these areas may be accepted for brokerage following nursing review and brokerage availability with other health services. If no brokerage is available other medical treatment and or transfer to other service may be required
• Patients from out of town may be admitted to HITH where these patients are able to reside in alternate accommodation such as with acceptable family/carer’s
• The patient must have access to a telephone and a carer in the event of a medical emergency.

What to expect

Each patient is individually assessed to determine their needs and a plan of care is co-ordinated in consultation with a team of health professionals. HITH patients are considered to be inpatients at Bendigo Health.

There is no cost to receive hospital treatment at home. HITH is a voluntary admission.

How to access this service

• Referrals can be received from all inpatient units as well as the Emergency Department (ED). Patients from the ED must be admitted under an admitting Bed card and then referred to HITH.
• Upon HITH referral the HITH nursing staff will complete a risk screen to assess suitably & confirmation.
• Medical staff will admit the patient to the HITH service.

The care a patient receives whilst on HITH will include all the planned medical care, treatments & investigations (HITH patients are considered inpatients for the entirety of their HITH admission).