More South Australians are one step closer to having their hospital care delivered in the comfort of their own home, with a joint venture between Calvary and Medibank appointed as the service provider of the new My Home Hospital program.

“The program, to be co-designed and delivered with Wellbeing SA, was a significant step in providing the most comfortable, and most appropriate, healthcare for South Australians,” Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said.

“The Marshall Liberal Government is focussed on providing better healthcare services, closer to home, and the new My Home Hospital program is helping deliver on that commitment. The program will reduce the need for patients with specific conditions to spend time in a hospital and will help support our Local Health Networks to meet future demand,” Minister Stephen said.

“Calvary-Medibank has been selected through a tender process, which affirmed that their extensive medical, nursing and allied health experience puts them in a strong position to deliver hospital level services in the safety and comfort of home. Through the new program, patients will be assigned a Care Coordinator, who will work alongside them and their families or carers to develop a treatment plan that meets their needs,” he said.

“The patient’s Care Coordinator, doctor, and clinical team will provide support throughout their admission, monitoring them on an ongoing basis – either face-to-face, through their virtual care centre or both,” Minister Stephen said.

Currently, only 1.3 per cent of health services delivered by all acute hospitals are at home, and the My Home Hospital program will aim to increase this number to almost five per cent.

“My Home Hospital will allow suitable patients to be cared for in a familiar home environment where they can sleep in their own bed, and be surrounded by their loved ones, whilst accessing the same care and support they would receive in a hospital. We have reviewed national and international Hospital in the Home models to identify clinical conditions for which people in South Australia can safely receive quality care in their homes,” Wellbeing SA Chief Executive, Lyn Dean, said.

“In its first year of operation, suitable patients with specific health conditions such as respiratory infections or inflammations, kidney and urinary tract infections, and some skin infections will be able to access care through the My Home Hospital Program,” Lyn said

Wellbeing SA will work collaboratively with Calvary-Medibank and engage extensively with the community on the co-design and implementation of the My Home Hospital Program, to commence later this year.

Source: Government of South Australia

Aiza Mabayag

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Aiza is a journalist and content writer. She is the content producer of Public Spectrum.

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