Primary Care

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The role of the nurse in Primary Care is attractive, diverse and exciting. The roles vary across the sectors from community, ambulatory, acute chronic and complex.

 The nurse can obtain experiences in:

• Independent practise
• Innovative models of care
• Diverse clinical care delivery
• Care coordination
• Exercising Health promotion
• Chronic and Complex disease management
• Community Health
• Education

Just to name a few, in addition there are many opportunities for career development pathways.

Outpatient Services – Monash Medical Centre, Clayton

Innovation within Outpatient Services at Southern Health begins with our inclusion under the Primary Care program.  This enables Outpatient Services to work collaboratively to further expand and extend provision of services to the community.   The Southern Health Outpatient Service provides care to clients referred for management of complex health problems requiring the management by a multidisciplinary health care team.  Flexibility and innovation are key values required so that an effective and efficient service can be offered to clients.

Outpatient Services provide specialised care, pre and post operative hospital care and other medical and allied health services. General and specialised clinics are provided by Southern Health including: Paediatrics and Adults; Orthopaedics; Plastics and Fasciomaxillary; Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Vascular; Dental and Surgical. 

The Outpatient Service adopts a collaborative team approach to our work.  Our Operational Plan is developed in line with the strategic goals of Southern Health and staff are all actively working towards meeting these goals to provide the highest quality healthcare.

 

Hospital in the Home- Monash Medical Centre, Clayton and Moorabbin

Hospital in the Home provides a 24 hour, 7 day per week medical care for ‘in patients’ who are clinically stable enough to be cared for in their own homes, nursing homes, hostels or usual abode. As such Hospital in the Home (HITH) is a 27 bed ‘virtual ward’. This means that we provide hospital substituted care for patients in their own homes. Patients are assessed for clinical and psychosocial risk prior to admission to the program. It is preferable that patients live with or nearby a support person. Patients must have 24 hour telephone access. Admission to the HITH program is by patient consent, but most patients find it preferable to have their treatment in their homes rather than in Hospital.  We cater for a range of medical therapies including complex wound management, intravenous antibiotic therapy, anticoagulation therapy, management of Gaucher’s or Fabry’s disease, Factor 13 deficiency, Multiple Sclerosis, Cystic Fibrosis, post operative cardiothoracic surgery, diabetes stabilisation, drain tube management, intraperitoneal antibiotic therapy and same day surgery.  All inpatient referrals are made via fax to the HITH department. We accept referrals by General Practitioners (GPs), Emergency Departments, Consultant Rooms, Outpatients Departments and Hospital Wards

Our nursing model is unique in that our Community Nurses rotate between the campuses of Southern Health, and have competencies in various roles including case management, clinical co ordination and the Home Visit role, providing actual therapies in the patient’s homes.  Our medical representation is broad, however most patients are managed by haematology, infectious diseases or the various surgical bed cards. Our patients have access to a suit of hotel services according to their assessed needs and receive daily or twice daily visits by our Registered Nurses. Additional services provided by the HITH MMC Clayton site include Peg Outreach Service/Care Link Hospital in the Home.
             
                                   
Hospital in the Home – Dandenong Hospital
 
Hospital in the Home (HITH) is a 27 bed ‘virtual ward’. This means that we provide hospital substituted care, 24 hour, 7 day per week for ‘in patients’ who are clinically stable enough to be cared for in their own homes, nursing homes, hostels or usual abode. Patients are assessed for clinical and psychosocial risk prior to admission to the program. It is preferable that patients live with or nearby a support person and patients must have 24 hour telephone access. Admission to the HITH program is by patient consent, but most patients find it preferable to have their treatment in their homes rather than in Hospital.  We cater for a range of medical therapies including complex wound management, intravenous antibiotic therapy, anticoagulation therapy, management of Gaucher’s or Fabry’s disease, Factor 13 deficiency, Multiple Sclerosis, Cystic Fibrosis, post operative cardiothoracic surgery, diabetes stabilisation, drain tube management, intraperitoneal antibiotic therapy and same day surgery.

Our nursing model is unique in that our Community Nurses rotate between the campuses of Southern Health, and have competencies in various roles including case management, clinical co ordination and the Home Visit role, providing actual therapies in the patient’s homes.  Our medical representation is broad; however most patients are managed by haematology, infectious diseases or the various surgical bed cards. Our patients have access to a suit of hotel services according to their assessed needs and receive daily or twice daily visits by our Registered Nurses. We accept referrals by General Practitioners (GPs), Emergency Departments, Consultant Rooms, Outpatients Departments and Hospital Wards.