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Aged Care Facilities | Home Doctor | 13SICK

13SICK, National Home Doctor is Australia’s largest network of after hours doctors. We visit patients at home and in aged care facilities on weeknights, weekends and public holidays, when GPs are not available. Our team of Doctors provide critical support to aged care residents, treating their acute episodic care needs in the after hours, and saving unnecessary and upsetting trips to hospital by ambulance. We bulk bill all patients with a Medicare or Gold DVA card.  Following the after hours doctor consultation, a medical report is sent to the patient’s GP the following day, ensuring they are kept updated.

How 13SICK can help aged care facilities in the after hours:

Our Doctors can assist with:

  • Providing treatment for ailments such as diarrhoea, vomiting, pain, fever, rashes, bedsores, etc.
  • Assessment and treatment of common acute ailments such as respiratory infections, gastroenteritis, UTIs, etc.
  • Uncomplicated wound care including simple wound sutures and gluing of wounds (if bleeding controlled)
  • Palliative orders for end of life treatment
  • Indwelling urinary catheter insertion (if equipment is available)
  • Assessment and then treatment of acute deterioration
  • Assessment and management of behavioural changes or confusion
  • Assisting in medication management as part of hospital avoidance programs
  • Administering S8 medication for pain relief, when clinically appropriate
  • End of life care provided in accordance with Advanced care Plans. This includes treatment for commonly experienced symptoms such as pain, nausea, vomiting, restlessness and excessive respiratory secretions
  • Verification of death (but not certification of death)

    Note: All emergencies requiring immediate medical attention should be referred to 000.

How to book an after hours Doctor:

  • To arrange for an after hours Doctor to visit your facility, call us on 13SICK (13 7425) 
  • Our Doctors are on the road: weekdays from 6pm, Saturdays from 12pm and all day Sundays and public holidays
  • Prior to the call, please have the following details ready:
    • Name and contact phone number of your facility
    • Patient’s name, date of birth and Medicare number (we bulk bill all patients with a Medicare or Gold DVA card) 
    • Patient’s room number and location within the facility
    • Any specific access instructions or directions the Doctor will need
    • Name of the patient’s General Practitioner (all residents are bulk billed*) * if eligible for Medicare rebates
  • Please give a direct line for night staff so that the Doctor can get in touch easily
  • Let the operator know which entrance the doctor should use, as well as any codes to enter gates or doors
  • If you have extra patients to be seen, please call 13SICK to book them in – it is important that the patient’s details are logged before the Doctor arrives. This is so that we can check whether the patient’s GP has any Special Instructions for our doctor

When the Doctor attends your facility:

  • Doctors will advise when they are on their way. Waiting times will depend on location, clinical urgency and seasonal demand
  • To assist the Doctor, please have the patient’s file and medication charts on hand 
  • On arrival at the facility, the Doctor will introduce themselves to the nurse on duty. Ideally, the nurse should accompany the Doctor to the patient and stay with them during the consultation
  • At the end of the consultation, the Doctor will complete the patient’s file and give any instructions
  • The Doctor will ensure that a patient report is sent to the patient’s nominated GP. Note, this report can also be sent to your facility if you are registered with our service