Post Acute Care (PAC)

Northern Post-Acute Care (PAC) provides short term care (usually up to 4 weeks) to help people get better at home following a public hospital stay. PAC mainly supports people who have limited help, or who care for others at home.

People being discharged from a public hospital (including emergency departments, acute services and subacute services) can access short-term supports. They need to be assessed as requiring short-term, community-based help to assist them to recuperate in the community, and to ensure a safe and timely discharge. Short-term supports include a range of community-based services according to the person’s individually assessed needs. The most common services provided are:

community nursing
personal care
home care.

Short-term supports facilitate a safe and timely discharge from hospital. The person returns home with an appropriate package of community-based supports. They are also linked up with ongoing long-term supports in the community, as required.

What to expect from the service?

Hospital staff will talk to you about your needs with you while you are in hospital and make a referral to PAC. The PAC team will then link you to one, or more, of these services for up to 28 days following discharge from hospital.

The Northern PAC team provides services to patients living in Whittlesea, Hume and parts of Darebin. Those living outside these areas will be referred onto a PAC Program near home.

Information

Cost:

There is no cost for PAC Services, if you are receiving other services, such as council home care, then you will continue to pay for thses services separately.

You may need to pay a fee of $5-10 per week if you are referred on to our Community Therapy service or Aged Care services (CHSP).

Northern Post-Acute Care (PAC) provides short term care (generally up to 4 weeks) to assist clients at home, to facilitate their recuperation post hospitalisation. PAC is mainly designed for people who have limited help or who are carers for others at home.

Inclusion Criteria

Be discharged from a public hospital or Emergency Department
Agree to receiving services brokered by PAC and sharing of information with Service Providers.
Be unable to receive help they require to return and remain at home, from their family/carers or community service providers
Be medically stable prior to discharge
Have a sustainable discharge plan, and be able to be supported by mainstream services within 28 days, post PAC
The PAC team provides services to patients living in Whittlesea, Hume and parts of Darebin. Those living outside these areas will be referred onto the PAC Program near home.

Exclusion Criteria

People without a Medicare or from a country without a reciprocal health care agreement.
Hospital in the Home (HITH) are classified as an inpatient.
Home Care Packages- Clients who are on level 3 or 4 Home Care Package speak with the case manager prior to making referrals to PAC as some clients may not be eligible.
Clients being discharged to residential aged care or awaiting residential aged care
Clients under Transitional Services (GEM@Home, TCP- bed based, home based, GEM at Resi, Respite) are ineligible
Clients with a Primary Psychiatric diagnosis

Minimum requirement for all referrals is that they are ISBAR compliant. Referrals are accepted via
Email: directly to Post Acute Care TNH-PACReferrals@nh.org.au.
Fax: to 9495 3226

Physiotherapy Referrals:
For Post Acute Care referrals requiring Physiotherapy please fax the physiotherapy referral to the Community Access Service on Fax: 84058616

For enquiries relating to Physio PAC referrals contact: NHS-PhysiotherapyHomeBased@mh.org.au