Hospital in the home

We care for people who need medical care but can benefit from care in their own home. Your ‘home’ could be your own house, a hotel, a residential aged care facility or a family member’s or friend’s home.

Our Hospital in the Home (HITH) service is a 24 hour a day service. We perform visits between 8am and 8pm and are contactable at all hours by phone to respond to any concerns or issues. Medical staff are available 24 hours a day.

Our senior nursing staff and our own medical team visit you at home to assess your needs, provide treatment, and review and plan your care. If you think you may need extra assistance at home while you are unwell, please let us know.

There is no cost to you for receiving Hospital in the Home care.

Our Hospital in the Home service provides:

• Intravenous infusions including antibiotics for cellulitis, respiratory infections, deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Anticoagulant therapy
• Post surgical care
• Complex wound dressings

Your own doctor (General Practitioner, or GP) can refer you directly to Hospital in the Home without you needing to come to the hospital.

What are my responsibilities during my Hospital in the Home stay?

• You need to remain at home for the duration of your treatment. If you have medical appointments or other vital commitments, you must inform your nurse during the visit.
• You are not permitted to drive at any time.
• Our HITH medical team will provide all care and any prescriptions you may need. We will liaise with your GP as needed and keep them up to date once you have been discharged from HITH. There is usually no requirement for you to visit your GP while you are being cared for by HITH.
• We ask that you provide a smoke free, safe environment for our team.
• Please ensure pets are outside while our team is visiting.
• Notify the HITH nurse when your medication supply is low. We will dispense more medications as required. You will not need to visit your GP or pharmacist.
• We request that you continue to wear your hospital armband while you are at home. It is a legal requirement for nurses to check this armband before giving you any medications.
• Your medical history will be left at your house - please keep it in a safe place.

What happens when I need to attend an outpatient appointment at the hospital?

• You should discuss this with the HITH nurses when they visit.
• Arrange for a family member or friend to bring you into your appointment.
• The HITH team will arrange for you to receive your care in our clinic room at The Royal Melbourne Hospital and help you to find the location of your appointment. If you have a letter issued by the clinic, please bring this with you.
• Discuss with the HITH nurse if you have difficulty getting to your appointment.

When to call the 24 hour number

Any time you feel unwell, if you have new or changing symptoms, or if you have any concerns or questions we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In the event of a life threatening emergency, call 000.

• Ask someone to notify Hospital in the Home of your situation via the 24 hour number as soon as possible.
• Bring your black bag containing your medical history with you.
• Ask to be taken to The Royal Melbourne Hospital. You are a patient of this hospital.

What happens when I have finished my treatment with HITH?

Our HITH team will discuss your treatment with you and keep you informed of plans following the completion of our care. We will provide your GP with information about your HITH treatment.

We usually recommend that you make a follow-up appointment with your GP about one week after being discharged from HITH.