General Information
Admission to the Hospital:
The first step towards arranging admission to the hospital is to talk to our admissions officer Marcus Whelan, either over the phone or by making an appointment to organise an assessment. This assessment will help us understand your situation and how we can help you. Following the assessment process you will be placed on a waiting list for admission. For urgent cases we endevour to arrange admissions the same day orthe next day. For non urgent admissions we will endevour to arrange an admission within the week.
If you are not currently under the care of a psychiatrist who works at the hospital, one will be allocated to you. This is done based on your presenting problem and psychiatrist availability. Before admission you will also need to provide us with, your health insurance details and a doctors referral.
On admission you will be greeted and shown around the hospital. A patient handbook will be provded to help orientate you to the workings of the hospital, giving information such as, program times, meal times, visiting hours etc. After a tour of the hospital, you will be interviewed by both the medical staff and nursing staff to complete your admission. Within a day of arriving at the hospital you will also meet with your psychiatrist who will review your notes and conduct thier own assessment. Once this is done an individualised program will be developed based on your presenting problems and your goals. It is expected that most patients will stay at the hospital for approximately three weeks. During this time we hope to identify key contributors to your problems and set a plan towards your recovery. Treatment plans will include a combination of psychological treatment and medications.
What happens after my admission:
The hospital program follows a timetable of activities and it is expected that everyone who is admitted follows this routine. This usually means waking up by 7am and preparing yourself for the day. After breakfast there is a community group meeting to discuss daily activites and after this meeting therapy programs start. Delicious, fresh meals break up the day but you can expect to be kept busy for most of the time. In addition to the group therapy, patients will be visited by their psychiatrist at least twice a week. These are usually individual sessions but may also involve meeting with family members or other significant people in your life.
After the days’ program is over, you will have some free time to relax. There are some voluntary evening programs also available and many of our patients have benefited significantly from the additional programs offered. During free time you may wish to receive visitors, socialise in the patient lounge areas or simply spend time reflecting on the days events in you room. The Hills Clinic has single and share (double) rooms available. All bedrooms are very comfortable and include; a hotel style custom made King single bed designed for a great night’s rest, individually controlled ducted air conditioning, private ensuites, a 32″ LCD flat screen TV, lockable wardrobe, desk, as well as access to a private patio area leading to the garden.
Amneties
We have tried to make the hospital as comfortable as possible, as we appreciate you will be away from home for a long period of time. We welcome you to fully utilise all amenities available, however, please follow the guidelines and always show respect for other patients who are recovering at the facility.
Laundry:
While all bed linen and toweling is supplied by the hosiptal, patients are responsible for the care and laundering of their own garments. We advise where possible that you send laundry home with your family. Where this is not possible you can use the hospital domestic laundry. We ask you only use the laundry in your free time and before 9pm as to not disturb other patients.
Gymnasium:
A gym with exercise equipment is available at the hospital. Before patients use the gym, you must receive a fitness to exercise clearance by our treating medical doctor. Additionally, all patients wishing to use the gym must also participate in a training program conducted by The Hills Clinic gym instructor. This is to ensure you are trained to use all gym equipment safely.
Patient Kitchenette:
Coffee, tea, filtered water and light snacks are available for patients in the kitchenette located in the patient lounge room.
Meals:
All patient meals are freshly prepared and cooked in The Hills Clinic kitchen daily and are served in the dining room. Meal times have been arranged around our treatment programs. We ask that all meals are consumed in the dining room. Please refer to our dining hours listed below:
o Breakfast 7:00am – 9:00am
o Morning Tea 10:30am
o Lunch 12:00pm – 1:00pm
o Afternoon tea 4:00pm
o Dinner 6:00pm – 7:00pm
o Supper 8pm (provided for at the patient kitchenette)
During visiting hours, guests are welcome to purchase their own meal and join their patients for dinner in the dining room during weekdays and any meal on the weekend. Please ensure you let nursing or kitchen staff know the number of visitors that will be joining you for a meal at least one day prior to dining.