Medical services can be accessed by presenting to the emergency department, or by referral from a medical specialist. Emergency assessment and management is provided in the 24-hour emergency department.
Werribee Mercy Hospital provides general medical care for admitted patients. Specialist services are provided in a day stay capacity or through specialist outpatient clinics.
The opening of the Intensive Care Unit (upon completion of the hospital expansion project) will see the hospital equipped to deliver some specialist services to admitted patients.
Coming to the emergency department
You may self-refer to the Emergency Department or you can be referred by your general practitioner (GP) or medical specialist for assessment.
All patients are triaged when they arrive. The triage process determines how quickly you will be assessed by a doctor in the emergency department.
What to bring with you to the ED
- Medicare Card
- healthcare card and concession card (if you have one)
- private health insurance card (if applicable)
- any referral letter from your GP or medical specialist (if you have one)
- any reports or results, including X-rays, scans, ultrasounds or pathology results
- medicines you need to take while you are at hospital
- adverse drug alert card or a list of adverse reactions from your GP
- a list of current medications.
Your assessment in the emergency department
Once you have been assessed by a doctor in the Emergency Department (triaged), a plan will be made for the most appropriate treatment of your condition.
Not all presentations or referrals result in an admission to hospital. You may receive an assessment or assessment and care in the Emergency Department and be sent home from there, or referred for further outpatient follow-up. This may include, but is not limited to a referral:
- back to your GP
- to a medical or surgical specialist
- for an outpatient clinic appointment
- to a specialist day clinic
- for further investigations
- to an elective surgical waitlist unit
- to an allied health specialist.
Medical admission
If you require admission to the hospital you will be referred to an admitting medical team. You will be transferred to an inpatient ward under the care of that team. The medical inpatient wards include Ward C3, Ward D3 and Level 4 medical ward.
Additional tests, such as blood tests or X-rays may be performed if they have not already been done. Please ask the staff any questions you have about your admission process.
If you require medication administration or minor medical procedures, they may be done in our Medical Day Stay Unit and will not require you to stay overnight. You will be given instructions about follow-up care before you leave. A staff member will confirm and talk to you about your specific abilities and limitations following your treatment.
Your hospital stay
You will be admitted to the hospital under the care of a primary medical team that will include a number of doctors. Other staff you may encounter on your admissions include:
- nurses
- medical and nursing students
- physiotherapists
- occupational therapists
- social workers
- speech therapists
- pastoral carers
- dieticians
- diabetes educators.
Once admitted, a plan for your care will be discussed with you by the medical team. You will be reviewed by the team regularly and nursing staff will continue to monitor your progress. Your treatment may include:
- further investigations
- medications
- procedures
- observations.
We will discuss the expected length of your stay in hospital with you when you are admitted. If you are required to stay longer than first discussed, the team will update you and determine your plan of care for the reminder of your hospital stay.
Discharge and your support person
Before you leave, a nurse will confirm your abilities and limitations following hospital admission with you and your support person.
You will be provided with a summary of your hospital stay and any necessary prescriptions for follow-up medications.
We will tell you about any follow-up care that may be required and we will make all necessary referrals.
Discharge time is 10am.
Transfer to in home care
You may need to be transferred to the Hospital in the Home Program for continuing care. This program enables you to receive hospital treatment in the familiar surroundings of your own home with the continued support of hospital staff.
To help with your recovery
Your post-admission care will focus on things to watch out for after your stay in hospital, including your abilities and limitations.
It is important you follow the instructions given to you, to enable you to make a good recovery.
Your nurse will advise you of things to watch out for. Please ask any questions or raise any concerns with the ward you are discharged from. You will be provided their phone number to contact them directly.
Please see your GP for further assistance or contact the emergency department for urgent matters.
Last reviewed May 21, 2019.