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Epworth Clinic Patient Information
Epworth ClinicPatient Information
Welcome to Epworth Clinic
Epworth Healthcare: Epworth aims to be the pre-eminent provider of quality healthcare for our consumers through the integration of clinical practice with education and research.
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We believe in being innovative in our approach to providing
services of excellence for consumers.
We believe in ongoing professional and personal development
for all staff members.
We work cohesively as a team.
We believe in being open, transparent and inclusive in the care
and treatment we provide for consumers.
We believe that excellence comes from a commitment to best
evidence based practice in our mental health services and in
working in full partnership with consumers.
We are a recovery orientated service that supports people to
recognise and take responsibility for their own recovery, wellness
and to define their own goals, wishes and aspirations
Epworth Clinic Mission Statement
Epworth Clinic has a team of dedicated health care professionals
working with consumers. We aim to provide the best possible
Mental Health Service to you, taking into account your personal
goals and welfare needs.
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Goals
Our goals are
To support consumers with their personal goals and to
help them achieve optimal mental health outcomes
To provide excellent mental health services focussing on
person centred care and treatment.
To operate the services in the spirit of Mental Health
Recovery Orientated Practice.
To ensure the service is well managed and fosters
exceptional relationships with consumers, staff and all
other key stake-holders.
We will do this in line with the following Epworth Values
• Respect • Community • Integrity
• Excellence • Compassion • Accountability
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• Be treated with dignity and respect
• Be informed of your rights and responsibilities in a way that is meaningful to you
• Be provided with quality care and treatment that takes into account your cultural, gender and personal needs
• Be fully involved in your care and treatment options at Epworth Clinic
• Epworth Clinic complies with the Privacy Act 1988 ensuring that your personal and treatment information is confidential
• Be given clear information on your diagnosis and treatment options, the services available to you and any risks associated with those treatments
• Epworth Clinic ensures all patients are informed of any outstanding charges pertaining to their admission
• Make a compliment or complaint and to have your feedback responded to in accordance with Epworth Compliments and Complaints Policy
• Consumers may request a second opinion (please refer to your treating psychiatrist or treating team on how to request a second opinion)
• Consumers may refuse treatment and be informed of the clinical consequences
• Be assessed and treated in an environment that is safe, conducive to recovery and free from discrimination
If you are not satisfied with Epworth Healthcare feedback process or want to share your experience or raise your concerns independently you can do so by contacting the Mental Health Complaints Commissioner (MHCC). The contact details for the MHCC are: Telephone: 1800 246 054 or email [email protected]
These rights and responsibilities reflect the guidelines identified in the following documents: The National Standards for Mental Health Services (2010) Commonwealth Government: “Mental Health Statement of Rights and Responsibilities” Private Hospital Charter: “Your rights and responsibilities as a private consumer in a hospital”. The Privacy Act 1988
Consumer Rights
As a consumer of Epworth Clinic, you have the right to:
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The admission staff will introduce you to the nurse who will be looking after you. The nurse will orient you to your room and the unit explaining your therapy program and expectations, medication, menu ordering and meal times.
Communications
There is a telephone in your room for you to make and receive calls; the extension number is located on the whiteboard in your room and also on the phone. If you choose to bring your own electronic devices, you can access the internet via Epworth’s consumer Wi-Fi system (details on how to access this are located in your room). Newspapers are available for all consumers to read, they can be found in the day lounges on each unit.
Sign In and Out book:
Please sign in and out if you are leaving the unit e.g. attending the day program, organised day leave, or going out for a coffee.
Personal belongings
It is always advisable to leave valuable personal belongings at home. To ensure the safety of belongings, each room has its own cupboard and drawer which can be locked. Please ensure your personal belongings are locked in your room. You will need to approach nursing staff to have your possessions locked away in your room. Please do not leave any valuables unattended in your room or in common areas of the hospital as the hospital will not accept responsibility for loss or damages.
Admission to Epworth Clinic
Admission staff will discuss with you the general admission procedures and provide the following documents
• A statement on your rights and responsibilities as a consumer
• You may also be provided with a patient information brochure relevant to your health care needs
• Information on our compliments and complaints process
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Personal money
We ask consumers not to carry large amounts of money with them. There is an auto teller machine located outside the building for consumers and their visitors to access.
Alcohol/drugs
Illicit substances or alcohol are not permitted on the premises. Consumers should not consume alcohol or present as intoxicated during their stay as it may affect their medications and the ability to be treated at the hospital, as well as their safety.
Footwear
For the safety and health of consumers and visitors it is important that you wear footwear at all times in the hospital. This is to ensure you are protected from any potential injuries and protect all consumers from the possible spread of infection.
Hygiene
We encourage you to be responsible for day-to-day activities such as personal hygiene and maintaining your room e.g. making your bed and keeping the room presentable each day.
Laundry Facilities
Epworth Clinic provides laundry facilities on site for patients to utilise. When you need to change your bed linen, please let your contact nurse know and they will supply you with new linen.
Parking
Consumers are requested not to drive whilst they are an inpatient due to the effects of some prescribed medications. For visitors, there are paid parking facilities on site. Parking is free for the first two hours. Trams to the site are also available. Please see tram route 72 for details. The nearest train station is Gardiner Station, with a 10 minute walk to the hospital or Camberwell Station with a 10 minute tram ride on the number 72.
Pets
In line with the Health Department guidelines and for the safety of all consumers and visitors, pets are not usually permitted on the hospital premises; however there can be exceptions to this rule, for example support dogs for sight impaired consumers. In all cases, this is at the discretion of the Nurse Unit Manager.
Admission to Epworth Clinic
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GP Service
As part of our admission process we engage a General practitioner to conduct a physical examination to assess your health status and to exclude any medical causes that may be impacting on your mental health disorder. If you have any minor physical health complaints, we can arrange for you to be seen on the unit by a visiting GP. To do this you just have a word with your contact nurse.
Medical care
All consumers in the hospital are under the care of an Epworth accredited psychiatrist. If you have any concerns about your medical treatment it is important to discuss this with your psychiatrist in the first instance as issues can generally be resolved. Otherwise, please ask a member from the treating team and your nominated carer will contact your psychiatrist on your behalf.
Medication administration
Medication will be administered by either a nurse or psychiatrist. Nursing, medical staff and pharmacists are here to help educate you about the medications you are taking. We ask that you familiarise yourself with what you are taking, why you are taking it, what dose and times you need to be taking your medication. Medication is usually administered to you in your room.
Escalation of care – communicating your health concerns
We want to ensure that consumers, families and carers are informed and will be supported when communicating concerns and signs and symptoms about a possibly deterioration in the consumers clinical presentation. In the first instance, please feel comfortable approaching the nurse who is looking after you or your family member so that can inform the psychiatrist currently involved in your care.
Consumer Inpatient Services
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Whiteboard
The whiteboard located in each consumer’s room is used for the purpose of consumer safety and care. Please use the board to personalise the goals that you want to achieve whilst in hospital and write positive affirmations and messages of hope. Use it as a prompt for when you next have an appointment to see your doctor, need to take medication or have pathology taken.
Consent and participation
In order to ensure that your rights and responsibilities as a consumer are communicated to you, both the admitting nurse and psychiatrists will be provide you with an explanation of the care and treatment you are to receive and will involve you in the development of your treatment plan. The consumer will be asked to u to complete the’ Agreement to Participate in Treatment form’.
Group therapy program
Therapy groups and are held each day in group rooms on Levels 2 and 3. There is a copy of the current weekly timetable available in each bedroom and the daily timetable is displayed on the consumer notice board. When attending your group please meet in the Level 2 foyer, next to the nurses’ station, 5-10 minutes prior to the group commencement time. Group facilitators will meet you there. Allied Health clinicians can provide Social Work, Psychology and Occupational Therapy input as part of your individualised care plan and are an integral pat of your discharge plan.
Recovery Care Co-ordinator
You will be allocated a recovery care coordinator within the first 72hrs of admission. Unless specified by your doctor, this will be either an allied health or nursing team member. Their role is to advocate and provide you with support, contribute to your treatment plan by discussing your views, reviewing your goals of admission and assisting you with your discharge planning.
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Discharge
The day you leave hospital we ask that you vacate your room by 10:00am. If you will be attending groups for the remainder of the day, nursing staff can advise where you can store your belongings. Consumers should see their allocated nurse to organise discharge medications.
The Allied Health Team also plays an important role in your discharge planning as they facilitate the Day Program groups. Accessing the Day Program is available to all consumers post discharge. If you are interested in knowing more about the Outpatient Day Program, please speak with your allocated nurse or allied health professional who can advise how to proceed.
Accounts for consumers
Epworth will submit a claim to your private health insurer for the cost of hospital related expenses for the following group of consumers:
• Privately insured consumers
• Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) consumers
• Work Cover, TAC and other third party claims
Please note that all Doctor, medical and anaesthetic fees will be billed separately by your practitioner.
During your admission you may require tests or services to assist your treating Doctor with a diagnosis or to help monitor your health progress. Costs for these services may be billed separately by third party providers and may include:
• Pathology (blood or tissue samples)
• Diagnostic imaging (for example x-rays) services
• Medications from pharmacy on discharge
• Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) services
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Medication supplies
Pharmacy charges are dependent on the health fund provider. Please check with your insurer what is covered and what is not, there may be out of pocket expenses.
If you want to bring your own medication into hospital, please ensure it is in all of its original packaging, with your name on the label. If you choose to bring your own medication into hospital it must be given to nursing staff at the point of admission.
If you go out of the unit and buy over the counter medication such as cough mixture, please ensure that you also hand in this medication to nursing staff on your return as it may be contra-indicated with other medicines your are taking. It is essential that all medication, including over the counter preparations are only dispensed by Epworth clinical staff whilst you are an inpatient in our care.
If your Doctor decides to prescribe new medication for your disorder whilst you are in hospital, the hospital will meet the cost of this.
All medications on discharge are charged to the individual or health fund provider.
Compliments, complaints
At Epworth Clinic we are keen to hear feedback from our consumers, carers and visitors. If you would like to give feedback, it can be provided directly to staff or can be written on either a suggestion form or a consumer satisfaction survey. You may also go through our compliments and complaints procedure. All complaints will be investigated and every effort will be made to resolve your complaint.
If you think we can do better and have a suggestion for improving care delivery or the design our service; please at first speak to your Nurse Unit Manager.
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Q What is the phone number for the Units?
A Epworth Clinic Contact details are: Mental Health Unit A | ph. 9805 4249 or ph. 9805 4248 Mental Health Unit B ph.9805 4240
Q When are the visiting hours?
A Between 1600 and 2000. Children are allowed on the ward but they must be supervised by a visiting adult at all times
Q How do I know which nurse will be looking after me on a given day?
A The nurse allocated to you for each shift will introduce themselves at the start of their shift and place their name on the white board located in your room. This nurse will be your contact nurse for the duration of that shift.
Q How do I get my medication?
A Medication is administered by the nursing staff as prescribed by your treating psychiatrists. The medication will be brought to your room, so please stay on the ward if you are due for any medications.
Q Are there groups to attend on the ward?
A There are therapy groups led by Allied Health staff during the week and by nursing staff during certain evenings and on weekends.
Q Am I permitted to smoke?
A Epworth is a non-smoking hospital however; there is a courtyard on level 2 that consumers can use as a designated smoking area. Assistance to quit smoking is available at Epworth please speak to your allocated nurse or allied health professional who can advise how to proceed.
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about the mental health service:
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Q Why do I get checked by nurses, have to obtain permission from my doctor to have leave from the unit and use the patient sign in and out book?
A Clinical staff are required to know of the whereabouts of consumers as this is a safety and consumer care issue. All consumers on the units are routinely sighted on an hourly basis even overnight as part of Epworth Excellence hourly rounding.
Q How do I use the telephone in my bedroom and Wi-Fi?
A Please see the notice on the wall in your bedroom for all details on Wi-FI. To make a phone call you dial 0 for an outside line and then dial as usual.
Q When are the meal times?
A Breakfast is delivered to your room each morning between 0700 and 0800. A menu will be provided to you a day in advance and needs to be returned to the nursing station. Lunch and dinner are served in the dining room; a menu is available to view on the ward.
Food services staff will visit each unit and provide fresh water jugs each day and come round with a trolley for morning tea, afternoon tea and supper.
Outside of these times there are tea and coffee facilities (free) for consumers in the ward lounge areas and a privately run cafe located on ground floor near the main reception.
Excellence. Everywhere. Everyday. www.epworth.org.au
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