Ros Schluter - Admission’s Coordinator
07 3717 5577
The General Medicine unit offers care for adult patients with a variety of sub-acute medical conditions, including respiratory disorders, diabetes, congestive heart failure, arthritis, skin disorders and other medical disorders.
Canossa Private Hospital works closely with a Specialist Geriatrician to provide a specialised medical service for the elderly.
The GEM model of care aims to:
- Provide rapid and early functional assessment for elderly people.
- Improve access to specialised geriatric inpatient and outpatient care.
- Develop an individualized plan of care for the physical, emotional and functional needs of each patient.
- Provide individualised discharge planning for patients with linkages to community care.
- Enable people to live independently in the community setting for as long as possible.
Why Patients Can Benefit From the GEM Model of Care
Patients can benefit from a GEM program if they are having problems in any of the following areas:
- Multiple medical problems
- Difficulty with routine daily activities such as dressing, bathing, preparing meals, or getting to the bathroom.
- Problems with managing household tasks such as laundry, cleaning, cooking and paying bills.
- Medication management issues.
- Falls or difficulty walking.
- Memory problems.
- Always worrying, feeling sad or lonely, or becoming bored with life.
- Problems with bladder or bowel.
- In need of help but unsure how to get it.
Target Group
- 65 years and older.
- Have one or more medical conditions with functional impairment.
- Able to engage in, be motivated for and benefit from rehabilitation as assessed by a geriatrician.
- At risk of requiring increased levels of community care or residential care.
- Have had changes in carer support at home.
Gem Care Team
The GEM program is staffed by a dedicated team of professionals skilled in geriatric and rehabilitation care under the leadership of a Specialist Geriatrician.
The team includes the following professionals:
- Geriatrician
- Clinical Nurse Manager
- Social Workers
- Registered Nurses
- Physiotherapists
- Occupational therapists
Other professionals are consulted to assist on a needs basis. This may include but is not limited to Speech Pathology, Dietitian, Podiatry, the patient’s General Practitioner and other Specialist Medical Pactitioners.
The GEM Unit
The GEM inpatient beds are located in the Rehabilitation Unit of the hospital. Inpatients are admitted to private rooms.
The Unit has been established to closely resemble the home environment with dining room, kitchen and individual multipurpose therapy areas.
There are also several dedicated therapy rooms, including a fully equipped physiotherapy gym and occupational therapy activities rooms including an area to simulate daily tasks such as cooking, housekeeping, and bathroom facilities. This allows the trial and transference of skills learnt in therapy to the home environment. Where deemed necessary home visits and assessments will be conducted.
Those patients that are assessed as suitable to attend the Day GEM program will receive therapy in a state of the art Day Rehabilitation Centre.
Transfers to and from the program can be arranged.
Assessment for Admission
The patient is assessed by a geriatrician on, or prior to admission to determine suitability for the GEM program
Patients also receive a multidisciplinary assessment within the first 48 hours of GEM admission. This assessment is conducted by nursing staff, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. A personalised care plan is developed for each patient and goals, intervention and discharge planning is determined in conjunction with the patient, carers and the team. Regular case conferencing is held to discuss progress and determine changes in intervention and goals to facilitate discharge.
Links with the General Practitioner (GP) are supported through written discharge information. Phone communication may also be made with the GP at any time throughout the program where further health care information/input is required.
Patients admitted to the unit are required to bring their own clothes, shoes and personal effects that they would use at home.
Referrals
Specialists and General Practitioners are able to refer directly into the GEM Day Program and GEM Inpatient program. To be eligible for the program patients must have private health insurance (or be self funded) or hold a DVA Gold Card.
Fax
07 3217 0789
Referrals can also be made directly to:
Dr Hoa Lu
Suite 203 Ramsay Specialist Centre
GREENSLOPES HOSPITAL
Phone
07 3114 0484