Hospital in the Home (HITH) – North Canberra Hospital

Hospital in the Home (HITH) is a hospital replacement service that allows you to receive hospital level care in your home instead of on a hospital ward.

About this service

The most common reason you might be admitted to HITH is to receive antibiotics through a vein (‘intravenous’). This is for more serious infections where antibiotic tablets or capsules are not strong enough to treat the infection. Examples of infections treated include:

• Skin infection (cellulitis)
• Urine infection
• Chest infection
• Breast infection (mastitis)
• Bone and joint infection
• Blood infection
• Heart valve infection.

You may also be able to use HITH if you need:

• Intravenous diuretic medication for fluid overload (from heart failure, for example)
• Intravenous iron for low iron levels
• Intravenous methylprednisolone for multiple sclerosis
• INR stabilisation if you’re on a medication called warfarin
• Intravenous fluid and anti-vomiting medication for dehydration
• Post-operative support after some operations
• Help transitioning to community care with an eating disorder.

In addition to nursing and medical care, we also provide acute physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, nutrition, social work, diagnostic pathology, and radiology services as required.

Hospital in the Home is also offered at Canberra Hospital. You will be admitted to the HITH service where your medical condition is best managed, based on where you live or where appropriate specialty services are offered.

Who we care for

We care for eligible people who live within a 45-minute drive from North Canberra Hospital and who:

• live in the ACT. Patients from NSW will be considered on a case by case basis, noting the local NSW Health service/system may be the best first point of contact.
• have access to a telephone
• are self-caring or have a family member or friend who can provide transport and care
• have a condition clinically appropriate for home-based treatment and requiring hospital level care such as intravenous antibiotics for cellulitis, mastitis, urinary tract infection, complex warfarin prescribing or severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy
• have a safe home environment for the delivery of care.

How to access this service

You can be referred to HITH in the following ways:

• If you are an inpatient, your ward doctor may refer you to us to complete your hospital treatment at home.
• If you are a patient in the Emergency Department, your ED doctor can refer you to our service.

Otherwise, your GP, medical specialist or a nurse practitioner can refer you to us, seven days a week.

What to expect

Once you are admitted to HITH, you will be informed when the nurse will visit you at home. Sometimes, due to either your preference or the requirements of the HITH service, you will be asked to attend the HITH clinic at the hospital instead. You will also need to attend the HITH clinic at the hospital for doctor reviews. The time and frequency of these reviews will depend on your condition.

If you are not suitable for HITH, we will contact another service to provide appropriate care for you. We’ll let your referring doctor/nurse know.

What to bring to your appointment

• Medicare card
• Any letters or correspondence from your GP
• Health Care Card and/or concession card (if you have one)
• Private health insurance card (if applicable/if you want to use it)
• Medicines you need to take while you are here
• List of medicines you are currently taking (or the boxes), including medicines you have bought without a prescription, such as herbal supplements and vitamins
• Previous x-ray films, scans, ultrasounds or any other test results or reports

Where we’re located

We are based at North Canberra Hospital (formerly Calvary Public Hospital Bruce), level 6, Xavier Building.

We have directions to North Canberra Hospital.