For Patients and Visitors
What is the Service?
Northern Post-Acute Care (PAC) provides short term care (usually up to 4 weeks) to help people get better at home following a hospital stay. PAC mainly supports people who have limited help, or who care for others at home.
The service can be accessed for 28 days following discharge from a public hospital.
What can I expect from the service?
Hospital staff will talk to you about your needs with you while you are in hospital and make a referral to PAC. The PAC team will then link you to one, or more, of these services for up to 28 days following discharge from hospital:
- nursing
- personal care
- cleaning
- shopping
- physiotherapy
- in-home respite
The Northern Post-Acute Care (PAC) team provides services to patients living in Whittlesea, Hume and parts of Darebin. Those living outside these areas will be referred onto a PAC Program near home.
What do I bring/need for my appointment?
All PAC services are provided in your home so there is no need to bring anything.
How much does it cost?
-
- No cost for Post-Acute Care Services
- If you are receiving other services, such as council home care, then you will continue to pay for these separately.
- You may need to pay a fee of $5-10 per week if you are referred on to our Community Therapy service.
If you are ineligible for Medicare the referral for the service will need to be reviewed by management.
Contact us:
For general enquiries please contact the Northern Post-Acute Care team on 9495 3367.
For Health Professionals
Service/Clinic overview
Northern Post-Acute Care (PAC) provides short term care (generally up to 4 weeks) to assist clients at home, to facilitate their recuperation post hospitalisation. PAC is mainly designed for people who have limited help or who are carers for others at home.
The service can be accessed for 28 days post discharge from a public hospital.
What can be provided?
Following assessment from hospital clinicians, clients may receive assistance in the home for one or more of these services for up to 28 days post discharge from hospital:
- nursing
- personal care
- cleaning
- shopping
- physiotherapy
- in-home respite
Inclusion criteria:
- Be discharged from a public hospital or Emergency Department
- Agree to receiving services brokered by PAC and sharing of information with Service Providers.
- Be unable to receive help they require to return and remain at home, from their family/carers or community service providers
- Be medically stable prior to discharge
- Have a sustainable discharge plan, and be able to be supported by mainstream services within 28 days, post PAC
- The Northern Post-Acute Care (PAC) team provides services to patients living in Whittlesea, Hume and parts of Darebin. Those living outside these areas will be referred onto the PAC Program near home.
Exclusion criteria:
-
- People without a Medicare or from a country without a reciprocal health care agreement.
- Hospital in the Home (HITH) are classified as an inpatient.
- Home Care Packages- Clients who are on level 3 or 4 Home Care Package speak with the case manager prior to making referrals to PAC as some clients may not be eligible.
- Clients being discharged to residential aged care or awaiting residential aged care
- Clients under Transitional Services (GEM@Home, TCP- bed based, home based, GEM at Resi, Respite) are ineligible
- Clients with a Primary Psychiatric diagnosis
How to Refer:
Referrals are accepted via
- Email directly to Post Acute Care TNH-PACReferrals@nh.org.au.
- Fax to 9495 3226
- For Post Acute Care referrals requiring Physiotherapy fax the physiotherapy referral to
- Fax to 84058616
Minimum requirement for all referrals is that they are ISBAR compliant.
For enquiries or referrals regarding this service please contact the Northern Post-Acute Care team via
- Email TNH-PACReferrals@nh.org.au
- Phone 9495 3367.
Alternative service options:
- Commonwealth Home Support Program (MyAgedCare)
- Council Services
- Community Health Service
- Transition Care Program
- GEM @Home
