Before Your Admission
Patient Admission Portal
Please login to at https://wph.admission.com.au/ and complete your online registration at least 7 days (where possible) prior to your admission.
What to expect
- You will be asked to complete three forms –
- Patient Registration
- Preadmission Health Questionnaire
- Infectious Disease Questionnaire
- It will take approximately 20-45 minutes to complete
- The information you provide can be re-used for subsequent admission reducing completion time for future registrations.
What you will need
- A contact email address and mobile phone number
- Your Current Medicare card, pension or pharmacy benefit card
- Private health Insurance details, DVA or any third party coverage
- Personal and next of kin information
- Your GP and referring doctor details
- List of your current medications
- Medical and Surgical history
- Enduring guardian and / or advanced care directive
Need help?
- If you need assistance with your online registration, please call Preadmissions on (03) 9319 3185 Monday to Friday 8.00 am – 4.00 pm.
Consents
Clinical
Completing a clinical consent form for hospital procedures is an important process that ensures patients are fully informed about their treatment options and can make decisions about their care. The consent process involves your surgeon providing clear information about the proposed procedure, its purpose, expected benefits, potential risks and complications, alternative treatments, and the consequences of declining treatment. If you are not sure about any details of your procedure, please ask your doctor. If you have any of the following in place, please bring a copy with you for inclusion in your medical record
- Medical treatment decision maker
- Appointed support person
- Advanced care directive
- Refusal of treatment certificate (made before March 2018)
- Enduring power of attorney (made before March 2018)
- Guardianship appointment
Blood
Blood and blood components are supplied by the Australian Red Cross Blood Service (ARCBS). The ARCBS has strict screening protocols for donors.
If you are a Jehovah’s Witness or have other objections to blood transfusions, it is extremely important that you discuss this matter with your doctor and that your wishes are recorded in your medical record. It is important that your wish to not have a blood transfusion is clearly written on the blood consent form before you sign the document.
Arrival Time
The hospital endeavours to minimise waiting time. However, patient health is our biggest priority and sometimes there are unforeseen events or complications that can arise delaying your procedure.
Prior to your operation you will be examined by your Anaesthetist. There are two ways this occurs; some doctors review all their patients prior to the starting of the operating list, other doctors see the patients between cases.
Pre-Admission
The following hospital staff may contact you prior to your admission;
- Preadmission nurse – to discuss your health status. This information will assist up to plan for your care and discharge needs
- Front Office – regarding your level of private health insurance and any out of pocket costs applicable to your stay.
- SMS message – to confirm your admission time. In most cases, doctors determine the arrival times and operating list order of their patients. Patients are assessed according to the operating list and not necessarily in order of arrival.
Preparing for Surgery
The preparation for surgery can vary depending on the operation to be performed. Ask your doctor if you need any special medical preparation for your procedure.
Prior to your procedure
Prior to admission, please;
◦ Shower
◦ Do not apply any powder, creams, lotions or make-up
◦ Please follow instructions from your doctor or hospital nursing staff, including fasting instructions
Fasting
Please follow your surgeon / Anaesthetist fasting instructions. Confirmation of fasting instructions will be sent to you via SMS after 2pm the day before the procedure.
Medications
Obtain an up to date list of your medications from your GP or Pharmacist. Please bring the medication list and your medications in their original boxes on the day of admission.
It is important that you have instructions from your doctor regarding the scheduling of your medications and natural/herbal supplements prior to surgery
Please contact your surgeon if you have not been provided with instructions for your medication or any preparations that are required for your admission
Support person
Adults – You are welcome to have a support person with you during the admission process. They are welcome to wait in either Reception or the Café and nursing staff will advise when you return to the ward.
Minors (under 18 years) – must be accompanied by one support person who will remain in hospital for overnight stays.
What to Bring
- Healthcare, Pharmaceutical Safety Net and Pensioner Concession Card
- Health fund, Medicare & DVA card for Veterans
- Authorisation letter for treatment from TAC, Workcover or other Third Party
- Means of payment for any out of pocket expenses, (i.e. Excess or co-payments) by cash, EFTPOS, bank cheque or credit card (Visa and Mastercard only). Personal or business cheques are not accepted.
- Clinical Information: doctor letters, reports, x-rays and scans
- Medication list that is current, repeats and authority scripts
- All medications you are currently taking, in the original packaging (including inhalers, patches, drops, injections and herbal medicines. Medications must be in the original packages in order for us to be able to administer them to you in hospital. Please do not bring Webster packs or dosette boxes.
- Physical aids e.g. glasses, crutches, CPAP machine (overnight patient). Please label items with your name.
- Day patient – Loose comfortable clothing
- Overnight patient – Nightwear, dressing gown and appropriate footwear. CPAP machine if required
- Copy of Medical Treatment Decision Maker, Enduring Power of Attorney, Refusal of Treatment certificate or Advanced Care Directive currently in place
Luggage Limits
Personal items should be packed into a cabin size suitcase or medium backpack – avoid bringing large suitcase.
During Your Admission
Presentation for Admission
Western Private Hospital is situated in two separate buildings on Eleanor and Marion Streets, Footscray. Please report to Reception in the Marion Street building. As a patient you can be dropped off at the main entrance.
Having day surgery can mean staying anywhere from two hours to a full day in hospital. It can mean an early start and a wait for surgery depending where your surgeon places you on the list. Please bring some reading material to help pass the time.
In some cases, your room will not be available until after surgery as patients may still be in the room awaiting discharge. Your belongings will be clearly marked and delivered to your room.
Bed allocations are made on the day of admission. Whilst every effort is made to ensure your desired accommodation needs are met, no guarantee can be given.
Patient safety during your admission
Implantable devices
It is essential that you let your Surgeon, Anaesthetist and Pre-Admission Nurse know if you have an implantable device.
- Pacemakers / Defibrillators
- Intraocular lens implants (cataracts)
- Heart valves
- Medication pumps
- Prosthesis
- Joint replacements
- Cosmetic implants
- Deep brain or neurostimulators
- Gastric bands
Please bring any information about the device to hospital with you.
Assisting with movement
Our safe handling policy means staff are required to avoid manually lifting patients. We encourage patients to assist in their own transfers where possible.
Falls Prevention
Falls can prolong a hospital stay or recovery period.
Nursing staff complete a falls risk assessment on all patients. This assessment will enable staff to identify your risk and ensure that appropriate strategies are in place to prevent you from falling.
If you have a past history of falls, please remember to discuss this with our nursing staff on admission.
Infection Control
To ensure a healthy environment, we request that any friend or family who are unwell avoid visiting the hospital.
It is also important to inform us if you have had any recent infections or have any concerns about exposure to infection.
Hand hygiene
Performing hand hygiene is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of infections. Our staff are required to follow national guidelines regarding hand hygiene.
You have the right to ask any staff member, including medical and nursing staff, if they have performed hand hygiene prior to attending to you.
Patients and visitors are also reminded of the importance of cleaning their hands using the hand sanitisers provided before and after hospital visits.
Pressure Injuries
Pressure injuries occur when there is unrelieved pressure on an area of skin resulting in damage. These injuries can be difficult to heal and can prolong your hospital stay. We use an assessment tool to determine your risk and identify your requirements to prevent pressure injuries.
Prevent blood clots
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE) are blood clots that can form in the leg or lung.
Both of these conditions can occur in hospitalised patients and can cause long term complications. The treatment is ordered in collaboration with your doctor and can involve medications and pressure relieving stockings.
Please advise nursing staff if you have a past history of blood clots