For Patients and Visitors
What is the Service?
The Early Stroke Discharge Program (ESD) has been developed to help patients with stroke return home earlier by providing rehabilitation within the patient’s home environment or closest Northern Health site (Bundoora, Broadmeadows or Craigieburn). Clients may be referred from The Northern Hospital or Inpatient Rehabilitation ward at Broadmeadows Hospital.
What can I expect from the service?
The service focuses on coordinated, goal-orientated, multidisciplinary care. Clients may receive simultaneous Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Social Work, Psychology, Dietitian or other Allied Health input. The type and intensity of therapy will vary with each client and may range from daily to once a week. Whilst on the program the patient will be reviewed in ESD clinic by the Stroke Nurse Practitioner.
The duration of the program is four weeks. Should further therapy be required the patient will be referred to Community Therapy Services.
What do I bring/need for my appointment?
A list of medications and any relevant scans or results.
How much does it cost?
- No cost for Early Stroke Discharge in the home.
- If client is referred onto additional Community Therapy Services there may be a fee incurred of $5-10 per visit.
- If client is ineligible for Medicare the referral for the service will need to be reviewed by management
Contact us
For any enquiries please contact Community Access on 9495 3443
For Health Professionals
Service overview
The Early Stroke Discharge Program (ESD) has been developed to help patients with stroke return home earlier by providing rehabilitation within the patient’s home environment or closest Northern Health site (Bundoora, Broadmeadows or Craigieburn). Clients may be referred from The Northern Hospital or Inpatient Rehabilitation ward at Broadmeadows Hospital.
What can be provided?
The service focuses on coordinated, goal-orientated, multidisciplinary care. Clients may receive simultaneous Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Social Work, Psychology, Dietitian or other Allied Health input. The type and intensity of therapy will vary with each client and may range from daily to once a week. Whilst on the program the patient will be reviewed in ESD clinic by the Stroke Nurse Practitioner.
The duration of the program is four weeks. Should further therapy be required the patient will be referred to Community Therapy Services.
Inclusion criteria:
- Medical stability
- A clinical diagnosis of stroke with mild to moderate functional deficits
- A permanent address within Northern Health’s catchment
- Adequate supports in the home environment
- The decision regarding suitability for the program will be based on:
- The patient’s level of function
- Their rehabilitation potential and goals
- Assistance and support available at home to meet patients’ needs (24 hours/day)
- Safe home environment
Exclusion criteria:
- Medical instability
- Presentation/symptoms that could not be safely managed in the home environment
- Medical condition requiring inpatient management
- An inability to manage continence needs
- Behavioural issues that impact the patient’s safety and/or that the family/carer are unable to manage.
How to Refer:
Referrals are completed internally by Northern Health staff.
Minimum requirement for all referrals is that they are ISBAR compliant.
For any enquiries please contact Community Access on 9495 3443
Alternative service options:
- Inpatient Rehabilitation (Broadmeadows Hospital)
- Community Therapy Services
- Community Health Service
- Kilmore and District Hospital
- NEXUS Primary Health Broadford, Wallan and Seymour
