Admissions can occur in a variety of ways.

Planned admissions will be arranged by your Doctor who will inform you of the date and in some cases, the time you need to come to hospital.

ACHA Hospitals have a dedicated Preadmission Nurse. You may be contacted via phone one to two days prior to a planned admission. During this call the Preadmission Nurse will discuss your hospital visit, confirm relevant information with you and will assist to answer any questions you may have about your stay.

If you wish to speak with the Preadmission Nurse, please call 

• Ashford Hosital: 08 8375 5866 
• Flinders Private Hospital: 08 8275 3333
• The Memorial Hospital: 08 8366 3458

(8.00am - 4.00pm, Monday – Friday) or alternatively leave a message and we will return your call.

Preparation for Your Stay

Please shower, wear comfortable clothing and remove your jewellery (you may leave your wedding ring on). Please do not wear any make up and remove your nail polish.

Contact your Doctor if you experience any change in your condition prior to the day of your operation (cough, fever, etc).

The afternoon before your admission you will receive a phone call or SMS message confirming your admission time. In some cases your Doctor may have already provided you with these details. It is very important that you strictly adhere to your fasting time as detailed by your Doctor. Fasting also includes smoking and chewing gum.

Please arrange for someone to escort you home after your discharge.

Admission to Day Surgery

On admission please present to the reception desk to notify staff that you have arrived.

After your admission has been processed and identity details confirmed by our reception team, you will be escorted to the Day Procedure Unit. A nurse will admit you and provide you with information about your stay in hospital. We ask if you do require a medical / carers certificate please advise nursing staff on admission.

While we aim to keep your waiting time to a minimum, the nature of surgery sometimes means there may be a delay due to unexpected / extended needs of other patients. We will keep you informed of this on the day and ask for your patience and co-operation.

After your procedure you will spend some time in Recovery, prior to returning to the Day Procedure Unit.

Discharge from Day Surgery

We aim to give you and your family an approximate discharge time from the hospital.

You will be given written information with your post operative instructions if this has not already been provided to you by your Doctor. Please be aware following your anaesthetic you will be required to have someone stay with you overnight and for the following 24 hours you will not be able to drive.

We will contact you day after your surgery to check on your progress.

Preparation for Your Stay

Please shower, wear comfortable clothing and remove your jewellery (you may leave your wedding ring on). Please do not wear any make up and remove your nail polish.

Contact your Doctor if you experience any change in your condition prior to the day of your operation (cough, fever, etc).

The afternoon before your admission you will receive a phone call or SMS message confirming your admission time. In some cases your Doctor may have already provided you with these details. It is very important that you strictly adhere to your fasting time as detailed by your Doctor. Fasting also includes smoking and chewing gum.

Admission for Surgery requiring Overnight Stay

On admission please present to the reception desk to notify staff you have arrived.

After your admission has been processed and identity details confirmed by our reception team, you will be escorted to the Day Procedure Unit or, in some cases, directly to a surgical ward. A nurse will admit you and provide you with information about your stay in hospital. We ask if you do require a medical / carers certificate please advise nursing staff on admission.

While we aim to keep your waiting time to a minimum, the nature of surgery sometimes means there may be a delay due to unexpected / extended needs of other patients. We will keep you informed of this on the day and ask for your patience and co-operation.

Post Operative Management

After your procedure you will spend some time in Recovery, prior to returning to the ward. On your return to the ward your nurse will monitor and assist you.

• Health Care Card
• Pensioner Concession Card
• Pharmaceutical Safety Net Card
• Health Fund Card
• Family Prescription Record Card
• Veterans' Affairs Card
• Medicare Card
• Worker's Compensation Claims Agent Details
• Third Party / Accident Details
• All medication currently being taken (in original packaging)
• A list of all current medications from your General Practitioner (preferably typed)
• All medication repeat prescriptions
• All relevant x-rays / scans
• Notes / letters / reports from your Doctor
• Pyjamas / Dressing gown
• Slippers (non-slip)
• Toiletries including soap, etc
• Spectacles
• Small amount of cash
• Walking aid (if used)
• CPAP machine and distilled water (if required)

What Not to Bring

In the interests of safety, we request that you do not bring hairdryers, talcum powder, wheat bags, hot water bottles or heat packs of any kind to hospital.

Personal Effects / Valuables

We strongly advise patients not to bring valuables, jewellery or excessive sums of money to hospital. ACHA does not accept responsibility for loss or damage to personal property.

Electrical Equipment

We encourage you not to bring electrical items into the hospital. If you do bring an electrical item with you, please ensure the cords are in good condition. Particular care should be taken with hair straighteners and shavers due to their internal heating elements and the increased risk of electrocution near water. Hairdryers are available for patient use.

Our hospitals provide a range of accommodation options including single rooms and share rooms. Every effort is made to provide you with your preferred style of accommodation. Please discuss your particular needs with the nursing staff on your ward.

Rooms are equipped with television (including radio), telephone (local calls are free), access to Wi-Fi and a call bell for nursing assistance.

Across our three ACHA hospitals you will find a highly skilled Allied Health team available to provide patients support as required. The services include:

• Dietetics & Nutrition
• Physiotherapy
• Speech Pathology
• Occupational Therapy

Our Allied Health team are able to assist with 

• Referrals to outpatient services
• Home exercise programs and safety recommendations for discharge
• Advice regarding return to normal activity/ work
• Equipment purchase, hire and walking aid prescription

Referrals to these services can be made by your Doctor.

An interpreter service can be arranged when necessary. Please ask the nursing staff to arrange an interpreter for you. Charges may apply.

Free Wi-Fi

ACHA Hospitals are pleased to offer all patients complimentary Wi-Fi service to assist you to stay connected with their loved ones. Our friendly staff are here to help you stay connected

Digital drop ins

Digital drop ins are a great way to connect with others via video applications including FaceTime, WhatsApp, Skype, Zoom, Facebook Messenger.

To assist patients to stay connected with friends and family using a smart phone (eg. iPhone), tablet (eg. iPad) or laptop, we are pleased to share these guides [Tips to Keep Connected] and [Free Hospital Wi-Fi Network] which provide simple step by step instructions to help.

Ashford Hospital offers an inpatient and outpatient Diabetes Service, coordinated by a credentialed Diabetes Educator.

• Outpatient service provides comprehensive and individualised care to people living with diabetes
• Accepts referrals from Endocrinologists / Obstetricians / GPs / self-referrals
• Most Private Health funds reimburse fees for diabetes education, where there is the appropriate hospital cover

For further information on this service please phone 08 8375 5222 and ask to speak to our Diabetes Educator.

Across our hospitals we aim to provide you with a selection of appetising meals to provide the appropriate nourishment to aid recovery.

We understand the different dietary requirements of our patients and have a range of options to choose from including a vegan/vegetarian menu.

Other special dietary requests can be met if required and a Dietitian is available upon referral by your Doctor.

Meals are served at these times:

• Breakfast 7.00am – 8.00am
• Morning Tea 9.30am
• Lunch 12.00pm – 1.00pm
• Afternoon Tea 2.30pm
• Dinner 5.00pm – 6.00pm
• Supper 7.00pm

ACHA is committed to providing a safe, healthy environment for patients, staff and visitors.

In the interest of promoting good health ACHA Hospitals are non-smoking facilities and we ask visitors to comply with this policy.

If you would like further assistance in how to stop smoking contact your General Practitioner, or call Quitline® on 13 78 48.

®Quitline is a registered trademark of The Cancer Council Victoria.

All people, regardless of religious faith or cultural background have pastoral and spiritual needs. Illness or other traumas in life can be stressful and at these times the help of others may be valuable. Family members and friends are often an important support, but sometimes the presence of a person who is independent of the situation can be helpful.

Our pastoral care team is available to be a listening presence if you would like to talk through what is happening for you or can offer prayer and traditional faith support if that is appropriate to your needs.

Ashford Hospital:

• The Sacred Space, an area for prayer and reflection, and also a Muslim prayer room arelocated on Level 1. The Anzac garden can be accessed via Marion ward on the ground floor.
• Chaplain Rev Mark Dickens is located at Ashford Hospital and can be contacted on 08 8375 5953.

Flinders Private Hospital:

• The Sacred Space, an area for prayer and reflection, is located on level 4, next to the back lifts.
• Chaplain Rev Rachael Litchfield located at Flinders Private Hospital and can be contacted on 08 8275 3498.

The Memorial Hospital:

• The Peace Chapel, an area for prayer and reflection, is located on level two.
• Chaplain Rev Dave Williamson is located at The Memorial Hospital and can be contacted on 088366 3809.

ACHA Hospitals have a highly skilled Wound, Ostomy and Continence Manager available to assist patients and our staff as required.

This service includes the management of patients with complex wounds, new stomas or continence issues. The role complements the care provided by our nursing and Allied Health teams to provide a holistic service to our patients.

You are asked to bring all medications, in their original boxes into hospital with you. This includes non prescription items.

Our ACHA hospitals offer access to PressReader - an online service which gives access to 7000+ magazine and newspaper publications.

Boarding can be arranged if required. There are standard boarding rates available which cover the cost of food and accommodation.

It is important that you are aware of any financial obligations related to your admission. If this has not been discussed with you, please ask to speak to one of our accounts staff.

You will be asked to complete and sign a health insurance claim form on admission. Any excess payment applicable to your policy will be required to be paid on or prior to admission. The Hospital will submit your claim directly to your health fund on your behalf.

In the event that your health fund rejects your claim for reimbursement for any reason, the hospital will seek to recover any amounts outstanding from you.

If you do not sign a health insurance claim form before discharge, a form will be sent to you for completion. ACHA requests that you return the completed and signed claim form as soon as possible.

Medicare does not cover any private hospital accommodation (room charges) nor theatre fees as this is covered by your private health insurer. Doctor's fees are covered by Medicare and your private health insurer and depending on your Doctor and health insurance cover there may be a gap payable. You should discuss these charges with your Doctor and your health fund. You may also receive separate accounts for the following:

• Attending Surgeon / Assisting Surgeon / Anaesthetist
• Attending Physician (non surgical stay or medical consultation)
• Medical Imaging (if x-rays or scans were required)
• Pathology (if any tests such as blood tests or biopsies were required)
• Critical Care Specialist (if you required a stay in the Critical Care Unit)
• Emergency Department

Medicare does not cover ambulance costs. Some private health insurance policies do cover the cost of an ambulance. However, many only cover you for emergency services. Please contact your health fund to determine your level of cover. If you have separate ambulance cover please advise us.

ACHA Hospitals accepts cash, bank cheques, money orders, eftpos©, Amex, Visa and MasterCard for any amounts payable.

Please note a surcharge applies for credit card transactions.

Personal cheques and business cheques will not be accepted. Payment must be made prior to, or on admission.

HPS Pharmacies provide pharmacy services for our hospitals. If you have any questions related to an account, or a general enquiry, please contact them directly on 08 8193 9100.

You will be billed by the pharmacy contracted to the hospital for any medications prescribed to you that were not related to your hospital stay / treatment and discharge medications.

ACHA has an agreement with the majority of private health funds to cover the hospital charges for your admission, depending on the level of your cover. Some levels of cover require you to pay an excess or co-payment and you will be asked to pay this prior to, or on admission. In addition, health fund policies require members to serve waiting periods before they will provide cover, and some levels of cover have excluded services. Pre-existing ailment rules also apply and your cover may be subject to these rules. We therefore strongly recommends that you contact your health fund to confirm your cover prior to your admission.

If you are a self insured patient (e.g. you do not have private health insurance, or you are not fully covered for your procedure on your current policy), you will be required to pay an estimated total of the hospital account prior to admission.

A self insured estimate is requested by your admitting surgeon. Please note that to complete a self insured estimate, we require details including your admitting surgeon, the planned procedure, and any relevant CMBS codes.

If your admission is as a result of a WorkCover, Third Party or Public Liability claim, we require prior written approval for your admission from the relevant insurance company. Once this approval is received, your admission can progress and you can get back on the road to recovery.

Where claims have not been approved by the insurance company, we can provide you with a written quote and you can choose to be admitted as a self insured patient.

Our aim is to make patient discharge a smooth process. When admitted to our hospitals, your discharge needs will be discussed with you and your family / carer. Case Managers are available to assist with planning additional support, should they be required on discharge.

Case Managers act as a resource for staff and can also meet individually with patients (and their next of kin), who have complex care needs or who will not be able to return back into the community without additional support.

Community referrals are dependent on multiple factors, which can include patient’s health fund, age, health needs, availability of resources and waiting periods. Case managers are able to provide support and direction for referral.

Discharge time is 10.00am. We ask that you make arrangements to be picked up accordingly. If you are unable to leave hospital at this time, please discuss with nursing staff.

Before you leave hospital make sure that you or your carer:

• Know what further care you require at home
• Collect medication that will be required
• Know when and where your follow-up appointments are
• Collect any x-rays or imaging tests performed

We advise that you should be in the company of a responsible adult for 24 hours after a procedure and you must have somebody escort you home from the hospital.

HPS Pharmacies provide pharmacy services for our hospitals. If you have any questions related to an account, or a general enquiry, please contact them directly on 08 8193 9100.

Should you be concerned about your condition after your discharge please follow it up promptly

Depending on your concern, you can contact

• Your treating doctors rooms
• You GP
• Present to an Emergency Department
• Diall 000 for an Ambulance

Patients have an increased risk of falling whilst in hospital due to the unfamiliar environment, changes in mobility and strength and the influence of some  medications. Your safety is of paramount importance to us therefore we ask that you take some simple measures to assist us:

• Sleepwear should be no longer than knee length
• Dressing gown should be no longer than knee length
• Slippers, socks and shoes should be non-slip and flat

Goals of care describe what you want to achieve during your episode of care, within the context of your clinical situation. Goals of care are the clinical and personal goals that are important for you and your recovery. Identifying your goals of care helps to prioritise care activities and contributes to your overall hospital experience.

We care about what matters to you, the better we understand what motivates you, the better placed we are to assist you to get back to what is important.

A pressure injury is an area of skin damage such as a wound, sore, ulcer or areas of persistent reddening caused by direct pressure or friction.

To prevent pressure injury keep active by shifting your position on a regular basis. Let nursing staff know if you have any sore spots on your body and they will assist to implement additional prevention methods such as a pressure relieving mattress.