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What is the Hospital Substitute Care program?
The Hospital Substitute Care program allows you to receive medical treatment at home, rather than in hospital. Stanhope Healthcare Services is an accredited community nursing service contracted by HCF to help administer the program. Depending on the availability of staff the service is provided to the Central Coast, Nepean, the Blue Mountains, Northern Beaches and in north, west and eastern Sydney.
What are the benefits of joining the program?
You will recieve the same treatment you would expect in a hospital except you will be in the privacy and comfort of your own home. If you are currently in hospital it means you can discharged early and continue your treatment at home.
How do I enrol?
You doctor will need to assess whether you are medically stable to receive your treatment outside of hospital. If you are, your doctor will need to refer you to the program with a care plan and a predicted length of stay. You will need to have a carer when required, access to a phone in case of emergencies and your home environment must be suitable and safe.
How does the program work?
Stanhope will recieve your doctor's referral and will then contact you within 24 hours to arrange for a nurse to visit you. At the first vist, the nurse will assess your condition and then work with your doctor to develop the best treatment program for you.
The visits will occur on a daily basis, or at a time agreed by both you and your doctor. Regular updates will be provided to you doctor. Once your treatment has been completed, your doctor will authorise a formal discharge from the program. Information on self managed treatments will be provided to you along with follow up consultations with your doctor and any referral-based follow up services required.
What treatments are available?
How much does the program cost?
HCF will fund all services provided by Stanhope Healthcare. Depending on your level of cover, you may be required to pay for some pharmaceuticals and/or equipment aids.
HCF does not cover medical charges from you doctor, pathology or radiology, but Medicare rebates are all available for these services.
Is there anything else I should know?
You'll need to have as part of your health insurance HCF hospital cover and not have a pre-existing condition within the 12-month waiting period. You'll also need approval from your doctor to participate.
Your privacy is important to HCF. The information you provide to Stanhope Healthcare Services will remain confidential and will be used only for treatment purposes and in the final evaluation of the pilot.
