Calvary and Medibank selected as the provider to jointly deliver ‘My Home Hospital’ in South Australia
More South Australians are now one step closer to having their hospital care delivered in the comfort of their own home, with the Calvary-Medibank joint venture appointed as the service provider for the new My Home Hospital program.
Commencing later this year, My Home Hospital will deliver acute medical care in the home across the metropolitan and outer suburbs of Adelaide, giving eligible public patients greater choice and convenience.
Wellbeing SA Chief Executive Lyn Dean said 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.
Calvary-Medibank has been selected through a tender process, and their extensive medical, nursing and allied health experience will ensure that they have the right skills to deliver hospital level services in the safety and comfort of home.
According to Wellbeing SA, currently 1.3% of health services delivered by all acute hospitals are at home. The My Home Hospital program will aim to increase this number to almost 5%.
Calvary National CEO Martin Bowles:
“We are delighted to be working in collaboration with Wellbeing SA, Medibank and acute and primary care providers to support quality care for public patients in the comfort of their homes.
Calvary has been caring for the health and wellbeing of South Australians for more than 120 years.
“Our new joint venture with Medibank enables both organisations to combine our expertise and experience to give more South Australian public-hospital patients the opportunity to receive services at home, as an alternative to going to hospital, when clinically appropriate.
“Our experience in the delivery of home care throughout our national network of hospitals and Community Care services is that some patients prefer to recover at home. We believe My Home Hospital is an example of the future of health care, offering patients more choice and providing a better integrated range of service delivery.
Medibank Group Executive of Healthcare & Strategy Dr Andrew Wilson:
“Medibank began as a health insurer and is transitioning into a broader healthcare company, giving people greater choice in how and where their care is delivered.
Medibank expects increasing demand from Australians for in-home care as an alternative to hospital admission, which is why we employ more than 1,500 clinicians across our in-home care and telehealth businesses.
“In-home care is often more convenient and less stressful for patients, removing the need for additional or frequent trips to hospital. Patients in the My Home Hospital program will receive treatment in the familiarity of their own residence, with increased comfort levels for those going through what can be an extremely difficult time.
“We are proud to be working with Calvary to deliver My Home Hospital. Our people believe in putting patients first and providing quality care. Together we will give patients in South Australia greater choice in how their care is delivered.”
More about My Home Hospital:
My Home Hospital will deliver care in a patient’s own home, including residential care facilities, as a substitute for going to hospital. The service will be available for selected conditions and eligible public patients, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week across the metropolitan and outer suburbs of Adelaide.
Patients can be referred to My Home Hospital via several pathways including directly from the community via their GP, specialist or residential aged care facility. Patients may also be admitted directly from a hospital emergency department, allowing patients to return home for their care rather than be admitted to a physical hospital.
My Home Hospital 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.
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 a virtual care centre or both.
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.
About Calvary:
Founded in 1885 by the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary, Calvary is a charitable, not-for-profit, Catholic health care organisation.
Our mission is to provide quality, compassionate health care to the most vulnerable, including those reaching the end of their life.
We're responsible for over 12,000 staff and volunteers, 14 Public and Private Hospitals, 15 Retirement and Aged Care Facilities and a national network of Community Care Centres.
To find out more visit www.calvarycare.org.au
About Medibank:
Medibank is a leading Australian private health insurer. We look after the health cover needs of more than 3.7 million customers through the Medibank and ahm brands.
For close to a decade, Medibank has been reshaping Australia’s health system – collaborating with hospitals, doctors and governments on innovative ways of delivering care in the home and community.
In August 2018, Medibank acquired South Australian business Home Support Services (HSS), one of Australia’s leading home healthcare companies.
Through HSS, Medibank has already been working with the South Australia Government’s Community Care program, which supports South Australians to avoid unnecessary hospitalisation.