This is for POWH Community Services
Hospital in the Home (HiTH)
HiTH is an acute care service that is provided free of charge (Medicare Subsidised) to patients 18 years and over who reside within the St George area.
This service allows you to remain home as a substitution for in hospital care. Treatment may be a combination of home visits, clinic visits (located in main tower ward block, Level 4 North), and/or virtual tele-health appointments.
Benefits of HiTH include, but are not limited to:
- Reduce your stay in hospital or provide a safe alternative to hospital admission
- Reduce risk of infection
- Increase independence
- Increased comfort of being in own home environment
HiTH is a team of Doctors and Nurses with access to Allied Health Professionals like Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Pharmacists if needed. HiTH treats a variety of conditions where in which the suitability can be discussed with your doctor.
Common conditions treated in HiTH include:
- Cellulitis
- Pneumonia
- Heart Failure
- Long Term IV antibiotic therapy
- Complicated UTIs
- Hyperemesis Gravidarum
- Diverticulitis
- TIA
-33.967739, 151.133632
HiTH provides hospital-level care at home, with nurses and/or doctors visiting in person or via telehealth based on your treatment plan. Care is available 7 days a week, including weekends and public holidays, and includes all necessary medical equipment. Treatment plans are regularly reviewed, and a discharge summary is sent to your GP when care ends. Eligible patients are aged 18 or over, have an acute condition requiring up to twice-daily treatment, are safe to stay at home with or without a carer, and have reliable phone access.
HiTH provides short-term loan devices and medical equipment at no cost to support treatment at home. The HiTH team assesses your needs and arranges suitable equipment, which is used during your care and returned once treatment ends. While there’s no charge, patients are responsible for any loss or damages. These devices help patients manage their health and recovery more independently during their HiTH care.
Hospital in the Home (HITH) is an admitted clinical service offering hospital level care to patients in their home or preferred location. The creation of HITH virtual includes enhanced care services such as videoconferencing, remote patient monitoring, and digital diagnostic technology, enabling an efficient service that allows patients to receive the care they need safely while at home.
The HITH Virtual Intravenous Antibiotic Program enables eligible patients to receive hospital-level IV antibiotic treatment in the comfort of their own home. Patients may self-administer antibiotics, have a trained carer assist, or attend the HITH Clinic as needed. A HITH nurse provides daily support via phone or video call, and a nurse and doctor are available 7 days a week for any concerns. The program includes education on managing treatment safely, and patients must have access to a phone, fridge, transport, and a support person if required.
If your doctor feels that you are ready to be managed at home, you may start on HITH Virtual. Time will be required to prepare the antibiotic, so you will be given a likely start date by the HITH Virtual team.
In most cases, to be able to enter the program you should have available at home:
- Have a working smart phone
- A carer/relative/support person to aid if necessary
- A refrigerator
- Access to reliable transport/driver for the entire course of treatment. This is especially important after-hours in case a problem occurs
- You also need to be mobile enough to safely manage at home
While you are on the HiTH Virtual program, staff will stay in contact with you daily through video calls or telephone, and a nurse and doctor are available 7 days a week to help if any issues arise at home. During your treatment you will have a weekly review with the infectious disease team in the HiTH clinic. After your treatment is complete, a follow-up appointment will be arranged with your treating doctor, and you may be prescribed oral antibiotics to continue your recovery.
After virtual supervision of the HITH staff, most patients can self-administer their antibiotics when deemed appropriate. Alternatively, a relative or friend may be trained to assist with your care. In some cases, you may need to visit the HiTH clinic daily or as required for your treatment, or a HiTH nursing staff member may attend to you at home.
Community Nursing Team
How we can help you
Community nurses visit people at home. They are able to discuss what you need and develop a health plan. Some of the things nurses can help with are wound care, managing health problems such as diabetes, managing your medicines and bladder or bowel problems.
Nurses often work with your doctors to manage your conditions. They can support you, your family and carers. They can also give health advice and falls prevention education, information about home-help services and health care equipment.
A community nurse can discuss ways to help you improve or cope with bowel or bladder problems. They also help people manage their urinary catheters. The appointment can be in your own home or at the hospital.
This is a free service. Home visits generally occur between 8am and 1pm.
After receiving a referral a community nurse will phone you within 24 hours to arrange a time to come and visit you in your home.
Hours of operation
Seven days a week.
Community Nursing Team
How we can help you
Community nurses visit people at home. They are able to discuss what you need and develop a health plan. Some of the things nurses can help with are wound care, managing health problems such as diabetes, managing your medicines and bladder or bowel problems.
Nurses often work with your doctors to manage your conditions. They can support you, your family and carers. They can also give health advice and falls prevention education, information about home-help services and health care equipment.
A community nurse can discuss ways to help you improve or cope with bowel or bladder problems. They also help people manage their urinary catheters. The appointment can be in your own home or at the hospital.
This is a free service. Home visits generally occur between 8am and 1pm.
After receiving a referral a community nurse will phone you within 24 hours to arrange a time to come and visit you in your home.
Hours of operation
Seven days a week.
Community Nursing Team
How we can help you
Community nurses visit people at home. They are able to discuss what you need and develop a health plan. Some of the things nurses can help with are wound care, managing health problems such as diabetes, managing your medicines and bladder or bowel problems.
Nurses often work with your doctors to manage your conditions. They can support you, your family and carers. They can also give health advice and falls prevention education, information about home-help services and health care equipment.
A community nurse can discuss ways to help you improve or cope with bowel or bladder problems. They also help people manage their urinary catheters. The appointment can be in your own home or at the hospital.
This is a free service. Home visits generally occur between 8am and 1pm.
After receiving a referral a community nurse will phone you within 24 hours to arrange a time to come and visit you in your home.
Hours of operation
Seven days a week.
Hospital in the Home
How we can help you
We care for people over the age of 16 years who have infections or people over the age of 60 years who need rehabilitation after surgery or a long stay in hospital.
We come to you in your own home or nursing home. Our nurses will visit you regularly. Our doctor will visit you when needed. We can:
- give you intravenous antibiotics if you have an infection. These are antibiotics which are directly injected into your vein.
- provide rehabilitation services after you have had an operation or a long stay in hospital. This includes organising any special equipment you may need.
Managers
Nurse Manager Louise Barclay
Medical Manager Professor Gideon Caplan
Hours of operation
8.30am to 5.00pm 7 days a week
Our team includes:
- Medical Director and Registrar (Doctor in training): The Doctor will monitor your health and treatment plan until you are better or referred to another service.
- Registered Nurses: Our nurses will visit you regularly to give you your medicine and other treatments.
- Physiotherapists: The physiotherapists will explain what exercises you need to do after you have had surgery.
- Occupational Therapists: The Occupational Therapist will provide equipment and advice on how to stay safe at home after you have had surgery.
- Administrative staff: Our administration staff answer the phone and can help with any questions you may have.
We work closely with your local general practitioner (GP) the staff at Prince of Wales Hospital and other doctors who may refer you to our service.
Our nurses will visit every day depending on your treatment plan. They will also visit you on weekends and public holidays. The nurses will provide all the medical equipment that is needed. They will talk to your GP and our doctor about your progress and discuss with them any concerns they may have. Our doctor will visit to check your progress and will decide when you no longer need to use our services.
Who is eligible to use our services?
- People over the age of 16 years who have an infection and need antibiotics to be directly injected into a vein.
- People over the age of 60 years who need rehabilitation support after surgery.
- You must live in the suburbs that are covered by our service. To find out if you are eligible please contact our office.
How to make an appointment for a visit
If you have an infection your GP will ring our doctor to discuss your treatment needs. If it is decided that you need antibiotics to be injected directly into a vein you will receive a call from the nurse to organise the visit.
If you need rehabilitation at home you or your GP can contact us to discuss your needs.
What time are the visits?
We usually visit between 7.00am and 2.00pm. If our nurses need to visit outside these times we will let you know.
What happens if I have an appointment and will not be available for the visit?
If you are not available for an appointment please talk with your nurse or contact our office a few days beforehand so we can make alternative arrangements.
If you need antibiotics, our doctor will organise these. You will need to organise your regular medicines with your GP.
Our nursing service is available 24 hours a day. You will be given a phone number to contact us if you feel unwell. If you are very unwell please go to the Emergency Department.
Please let us know if you need an interpreter. You can contact us telephoning the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450. Tell the operator what language you speak and then ask the interpreter to set up a telephone conversation between you, an interpreter, and the healthcare professional you want to speak with.
Prince of Wales Hospital is a teaching hospital and you may be asked for your permission for a student to be present during the visits. You have the right to say no. If you do so, this will not influence the treatment or services available to you.
Hospital in the Home
How we can help you
We care for people over the age of 16 years who have infections or people over the age of 60 years who need rehabilitation after surgery or a long stay in hospital.
We come to you in your own home or nursing home. Our nurses will visit you regularly. Our doctor will visit you when needed. We can:
- give you intravenous antibiotics if you have an infection. These are antibiotics which are directly injected into your vein.
- provide rehabilitation services after you have had an operation or a long stay in hospital. This includes organising any special equipment you may need.
Managers
Nurse Manager Louise Barclay
Medical Manager Professor Gideon Caplan
Hours of operation
8.30am to 5.00pm 7 days a week
Our team includes:
- Medical Director and Registrar (Doctor in training): The Doctor will monitor your health and treatment plan until you are better or referred to another service.
- Registered Nurses: Our nurses will visit you regularly to give you your medicine and other treatments.
- Physiotherapists: The physiotherapists will explain what exercises you need to do after you have had surgery.
- Occupational Therapists: The Occupational Therapist will provide equipment and advice on how to stay safe at home after you have had surgery.
- Administrative staff: Our administration staff answer the phone and can help with any questions you may have.
We work closely with your local general practitioner (GP) the staff at Prince of Wales Hospital and other doctors who may refer you to our service.
Our nurses will visit every day depending on your treatment plan. They will also visit you on weekends and public holidays. The nurses will provide all the medical equipment that is needed. They will talk to your GP and our doctor about your progress and discuss with them any concerns they may have. Our doctor will visit to check your progress and will decide when you no longer need to use our services.
Who is eligible to use our services?
- People over the age of 16 years who have an infection and need antibiotics to be directly injected into a vein.
- People over the age of 60 years who need rehabilitation support after surgery.
- You must live in the suburbs that are covered by our service. To find out if you are eligible please contact our office.
How to make an appointment for a visit
If you have an infection your GP will ring our doctor to discuss your treatment needs. If it is decided that you need antibiotics to be injected directly into a vein you will receive a call from the nurse to organise the visit.
If you need rehabilitation at home you or your GP can contact us to discuss your needs.
What time are the visits?
We usually visit between 7.00am and 2.00pm. If our nurses need to visit outside these times we will let you know.
What happens if I have an appointment and will not be available for the visit?
If you are not available for an appointment please talk with your nurse or contact our office a few days beforehand so we can make alternative arrangements.
If you need antibiotics, our doctor will organise these. You will need to organise your regular medicines with your GP.
Our nursing service is available 24 hours a day. You will be given a phone number to contact us if you feel unwell. If you are very unwell please go to the Emergency Department.
Please let us know if you need an interpreter. You can contact us telephoning the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450. Tell the operator what language you speak and then ask the interpreter to set up a telephone conversation between you, an interpreter, and the healthcare professional you want to speak with.
Prince of Wales Hospital is a teaching hospital and you may be asked for your permission for a student to be present during the visits. You have the right to say no. If you do so, this will not influence the treatment or services available to you.
Hospital in the Home
How we can help you
We care for people over the age of 16 years who have infections or people over the age of 60 years who need rehabilitation after surgery or a long stay in hospital.
We come to you in your own home or nursing home. Our nurses will visit you regularly. Our doctor will visit you when needed. We can:
- give you intravenous antibiotics if you have an infection. These are antibiotics which are directly injected into your vein.
- provide rehabilitation services after you have had an operation or a long stay in hospital. This includes organising any special equipment you may need.
Managers
Nurse Manager Louise Barclay
Medical Manager Professor Gideon Caplan
Hours of operation
8.30am to 5.00pm 7 days a week
Our team includes:
- Medical Director and Registrar (Doctor in training): The Doctor will monitor your health and treatment plan until you are better or referred to another service.
- Registered Nurses: Our nurses will visit you regularly to give you your medicine and other treatments.
- Physiotherapists: The physiotherapists will explain what exercises you need to do after you have had surgery.
- Occupational Therapists: The Occupational Therapist will provide equipment and advice on how to stay safe at home after you have had surgery.
- Administrative staff: Our administration staff answer the phone and can help with any questions you may have.
We work closely with your local general practitioner (GP) the staff at Prince of Wales Hospital and other doctors who may refer you to our service.
Our nurses will visit every day depending on your treatment plan. They will also visit you on weekends and public holidays. The nurses will provide all the medical equipment that is needed. They will talk to your GP and our doctor about your progress and discuss with them any concerns they may have. Our doctor will visit to check your progress and will decide when you no longer need to use our services.
Who is eligible to use our services?
- People over the age of 16 years who have an infection and need antibiotics to be directly injected into a vein.
- People over the age of 60 years who need rehabilitation support after surgery.
- You must live in the suburbs that are covered by our service. To find out if you are eligible please contact our office.
How to make an appointment for a visit
If you have an infection your GP will ring our doctor to discuss your treatment needs. If it is decided that you need antibiotics to be injected directly into a vein you will receive a call from the nurse to organise the visit.
If you need rehabilitation at home you or your GP can contact us to discuss your needs.
What time are the visits?
We usually visit between 7.00am and 2.00pm. If our nurses need to visit outside these times we will let you know.
What happens if I have an appointment and will not be available for the visit?
If you are not available for an appointment please talk with your nurse or contact our office a few days beforehand so we can make alternative arrangements.
If you need antibiotics, our doctor will organise these. You will need to organise your regular medicines with your GP.
Our nursing service is available 24 hours a day. You will be given a phone number to contact us if you feel unwell. If you are very unwell please go to the Emergency Department.
Please let us know if you need an interpreter. You can contact us telephoning the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450. Tell the operator what language you speak and then ask the interpreter to set up a telephone conversation between you, an interpreter, and the healthcare professional you want to speak with.
Prince of Wales Hospital is a teaching hospital and you may be asked for your permission for a student to be present during the visits. You have the right to say no. If you do so, this will not influence the treatment or services available to you.