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YDHS Client Information Booklet (396kb pdf) - GHA Central

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A Guide for <strong>Client</strong>s of Yarram & District Health Service<br />

W<br />

elcome to Yarram & District Health Service. This<br />

practical Guide will provide general information about our<br />

services and important information for you as a patient or client<br />

of <strong>YDHS</strong>. If you have any enquiries about your care or service<br />

provision, please do not hesitate to contact us.<br />

In person<br />

Main Campus<br />

for enquiries about inpatients,<br />

residents, emergency care,<br />

community services and all<br />

general enquiries<br />

Baker’s<br />

for welfare, counselling and family<br />

services<br />

Edgar House<br />

℡ telephone 5182 0222<br />

mail<br />

85-91 Commercial Road<br />

Yarram<br />

121 Commercial Road Yarram<br />

20 Nicol Street Yarram<br />

facsimile 03 5182 6081<br />

email<br />

visit us on the Web<br />

PO Box 61 Yarram Vic 3971<br />

yarram.health@ydhs.com.au<br />

www.yarramhealth.org.au<br />

Radiology (Xray) is located at the main campus – 85-91 Commercial<br />

Road<br />

Pathology is located at Baker’s – 121 Commercial Road<br />

1


Organisational Objectives<br />

Mission Statement<br />

Yarram & District Health Service seeks to maintain and enhance<br />

the health of the community through the provision of quality care<br />

that is effective, efficient, equitable and consumer focused.<br />

Vision<br />

The vision for Yarram & District Health Service is to be an<br />

effective, community based service.<br />

Core Values<br />

The Yarram & District Health Service regards caring, integrity,<br />

quality, professionalism and cost effectiveness as being its core<br />

values.<br />

Objectives<br />

• To provide health care services capable of delivering a<br />

continuum of care to our community.<br />

• To continually improve quality service delivery.<br />

• To provide services that promote health improvement and<br />

prevention of illness.<br />

• To respond to the health care needs of the community<br />

through the ongoing process of consultation and planning.<br />

• To communicate all services to our community.<br />

2


Contents<br />

Page<br />

Organisational Objectives 2<br />

About Yarram & District Health Service 4<br />

Services 6<br />

Site Map 14-15<br />

Rights and responsibilities 17<br />

Consent 20<br />

Advocacy 21<br />

Comments, Compliments and Complaints 23<br />

Protection and use of your health information 25<br />

How can you be involved at <strong>YDHS</strong>? 28<br />

Do you need an interpreter?<br />

We can assist clients who do not speak English as their first<br />

language. Please let us know if you require this support.<br />

Italian – Avete bisogno di un interpretatore?<br />

Greek – Χρειάζεστε έναν διερµηνέα?<br />

Dutch – Wenst u een Tolk?<br />

German – Benötigen Sie einen Interpret?<br />

French – Avez-vous besoin d'un interprète?<br />

Russian – Вы переводчик?<br />

3


About Yarram & District Health<br />

Service<br />

Yarram & District Health Service (<strong>YDHS</strong>) comprises a 20 bed<br />

public hospital, a 30 bed residential care facility–St. Elmo’s<br />

Nursing Home–and provides an extensive range of community<br />

based services.<br />

Yarram & District Hospital was inaugurated in 1912 and admitted<br />

its first patient in January 1917. In 1993, the hospital name was<br />

changed to the Yarram & District Health Service to reflect its<br />

evolution into an integrated health service, catering for the needs<br />

of the wider community.<br />

<strong>YDHS</strong> underwent a significant redevelopment resulting in an<br />

increase in bed numbers in St. Elmo’s from 10 to 30 and the<br />

expansion and modernisation of the acute/hospital area including<br />

Casualty. Construction commenced in 2002 and the<br />

redevelopment officially opened in April 2004.<br />

<strong>YDHS</strong> provides 24 hour emergency care to the community<br />

through our Casualty department. <strong>YDHS</strong> Casualty is an<br />

unfunded service, which means that there is no direct funding<br />

from the Government to provide this service and the costs are<br />

therefore borne by <strong>YDHS</strong> and the client. The Casualty<br />

Department is serviced by private General Practitioners and<br />

<strong>YDHS</strong> nurses. <strong>Client</strong>s attended to by a doctor in Casualty will<br />

receive an account from the doctor and the visit usually billed as<br />

an Out of Hours/emergency consultation.<br />

4


Our experienced and dedicated staff are committed to providing<br />

the highest possible standard of care and service to our clients<br />

and will work in partnership with you to help you achieve the best<br />

possible outcome from your stay with us or through the service<br />

you receive.<br />

<strong>YDHS</strong> is continually looking for ways to improve the services we<br />

provide and seeks feedback from our consumers through<br />

community surveys and client satisfaction surveys, consumer<br />

participation in programs, groups and meetings; and our<br />

compliments and complaints system.<br />

<strong>YDHS</strong> conducts random telephone or written surveys of patients<br />

following discharge from hospital and of clients receiving<br />

community services. If you receive a phone call or a survey in the<br />

mail we welcome your valuable feedback which will help us<br />

continue to improve the services we provide.<br />

Please note: information contained in this Guide correct at the time of printing.<br />

5


Services<br />

For information about access to and eligibility for these<br />

services please contact us on ℡ 5182 0222.<br />

ACUTE SERVICES<br />

Hospital<br />

17 hospital beds providing, for example, medical conditions, post surgery<br />

convalescence, antibiotic treatment.<br />

Dialysis<br />

3 dialysis chairs providing treatment for local and holiday clients with end stage renal<br />

failure.<br />

Emergency<br />

24 hour emergency department providing care for the client with, for example, chest<br />

pain, lacerations, snake bite etc.<br />

Rehabilitation<br />

Inpatient rehabilitation provides physiotherapy and allied health care for clients<br />

following surgery.<br />

Respite<br />

Provides an episode of relief to carers from their caring role.<br />

RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE SERVICES<br />

Nursing Home<br />

30 nursing home beds providing long term care for clients unable to manage at<br />

home.<br />

Respite<br />

Provides an episode of relief to carers particularly for those caring for persons<br />

suffering short term memory loss or dementia.<br />

6


SUPPORT SERVICES<br />

Community Mental Health Service<br />

An outreach clinical mental health service of Latrobe Regional Hospital providing<br />

support to those with a mental illness.<br />

Pathology<br />

Gippsland Pathology Service located in Yarram-available Monday to Friday.<br />

Radiology (X Ray)<br />

Radiology service provided by <strong>Central</strong> Gippsland Health Service visits <strong>YDHS</strong> five<br />

half days per week for Xrays and ultrasound.<br />

ALLIED HEALTH SERVICES<br />

Dietetics<br />

Dietetics is a service provided by a qualified Dietitian and includes advice and<br />

consultation on dietary and nutritional needs for individuals experiencing<br />

conditions such as high cholesterol, diabetes, excess weight and bowel<br />

complaints.<br />

Occupational Therapy (OT)<br />

The OT service assists clients to maintain their independence, for example, those<br />

who require modifications, equipment or retraining to remain safe and independent<br />

in their own home, clients who have a hand injury or require rehabilitation to<br />

increase the use of the upper limbs and children with developmental delay or fine<br />

motor difficulties.<br />

Physiotherapy<br />

The qualified physiotherapists at <strong>YDHS</strong> assist people to develop, maintain and<br />

restore movement and functional ability of the body. Physiotherapy staff can:<br />

• treat spinal and joint problems and patients who have had accidents and<br />

sports injuries<br />

• teach people about back care<br />

• help after hip, knee and other joint replacements<br />

• provide advice on coping with arthritis and osteoporosis and how to maintain<br />

mobility and independence<br />

• provide rehabilitation after falls<br />

• treat patients following a stroke<br />

• assist with management of neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis,<br />

Parkinson’s disease<br />

• assist with the treatment and management of respiratory conditions<br />

7


ALLIED HEALTH SERVICES (CONT.)<br />

Podiatry<br />

Deals with assessment, diagnosis and treatment of foot and lower limb disorders.<br />

It includes removal of corns, calluses and ingrown toenails, addressing heel, arch<br />

and forefoot pain, knee and lower leg problems, diabetic and arthritic related<br />

problems and providing footwear advice. Podiatry services are provided by<br />

qualified podiatrists from the Gippsland Foot Clinic.<br />

Speech Pathology<br />

A Speech Pathologist is trained to:<br />

• assess and treat people who have a communication disability<br />

• work with people who have difficulties with eating and drinking (swallowing)<br />

• advocate strongly for appropriate care and services for people with<br />

communication disabilities.<br />

8


COMMUNITY SERVICES<br />

Accommodation Assistance<br />

<strong>YDHS</strong> provides housing assistance to those people in a crisis as a result of<br />

homelessness or impending homelessness. Our aim is to assist individuals and<br />

families to maintain appropriate, secure and sustainable housing by providing<br />

temporary accommodation, information on housing issues and support where<br />

required.<br />

Adult Day Activity Support Service<br />

This Service provides recreational and social activities for those who like company<br />

and a chat and have difficulty in participating in other community activities.<br />

Continence Advisory Service<br />

The Service provides a specialised monthly visiting service for people who are<br />

experiencing bladder or bowel problems.<br />

Community Nursing<br />

Community Nursing is a home based service for clients and their families in the<br />

Yarram and district community. It is provided by trained registered nurses and is<br />

available 7 days a week. Some examples of the ‘in home’ services provided by<br />

the community nurses include:<br />

• wound management<br />

• providing hygiene maintenance and personal care for frail elderly people<br />

• providing post-operative care<br />

• 24hr palliative care for terminally ill clients and support for their family<br />

• monitoring and maintenance of people with an unstable chronic illness or<br />

disease<br />

Counselling<br />

<strong>YDHS</strong> Community Counsellors provide counselling, practical assistance, advocacy<br />

and social support to clients within the community. <strong>Client</strong>s experiencing grief,<br />

depression, marital breakdown, difficulties in managing the behaviour of their<br />

children or conflict with family members are welcome to make a confidential<br />

appointment.<br />

Diabetes Education<br />

Diabetes Education is a planned process that aims to help people gain the ability<br />

to live with Diabetes and be as healthy as possible. The Diabetes Educator is a<br />

specially trained nurse who has experience, qualifications and advanced<br />

knowledge in the care of people with Diabetes and those at risk of Diabetes.<br />

9


COMMUNITY SERVICES (cont.)<br />

Family Services<br />

The <strong>YDHS</strong> family support worker provides holistic support to families with<br />

children of any age. Support can include:<br />

• Assessment and seeking additional services for children with disabilities<br />

• <strong>Information</strong>, advice and counselling on parenting, child development, family<br />

violence, loss and grief issues<br />

• Advocating on behalf of families within child protection, disability and medical<br />

systems<br />

• Support with issues of social isolation<br />

• Group lunches for families to get together throughout the year<br />

Friendly Visiting Service<br />

<strong>YDHS</strong> can assist frail aged persons in the community who may be at risk of<br />

social isolation due to their limited ability to leave their homes. The Friendly<br />

Visiting Service is designed to assist clients to maintain their well-being and to<br />

live independently. Volunteers, who are matched with clients, will visit the client<br />

on a regular basis.<br />

Health Promotion & Education<br />

The Health Promotion Officer works with various groups with the aim to promote<br />

positive wellbeing and reduce preventable illness in individuals and the<br />

community.<br />

Home Care<br />

Home care includes services such as:<br />

• general household cleaning, vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms<br />

• shopping and collecting prescriptions<br />

• Washing and ironing<br />

• defrosting refrigerators<br />

• driving people to appointments (client must have own insured car)<br />

Services are provided on weekdays only and on the basis of the need to ensure<br />

the health and safety of the consumer.<br />

In Home Respite<br />

A trained in home respite worker can provide carers with a break from their<br />

caring role, or assist the client to have outings with or without their usual carers.<br />

The service is available after hours and on weekends<br />

10


COMMUNITY SERVICES (cont.)<br />

Lung Clinic<br />

The Lung Clinic has been designed to meet the needs of the increasing number of<br />

people in our community with respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath,<br />

frequent respiratory infections, wheezing and chronic cough. At the Lung Clinic,<br />

clients receive a review of their respiratory health while discussing their symptoms,<br />

medications and inhaler technique with the different health professionals. Advice<br />

is also provided on how the clients should manage their respiratory health,<br />

including information on relevant exercise programs and follow up activities to<br />

assist them in improving their respiratory health.<br />

Maternal & Child Health<br />

This Service is a universal service for families with children from birth to school<br />

age. The Service provides monitoring of babies’ growth and development, advice<br />

regarding health, safety and parenting issues, maternal wellbeing and family<br />

functioning.<br />

Maternity Support<br />

The <strong>YDHS</strong> Maternity Support Service offers antenatal and postnatal support to<br />

families of Yarram and district. Home visits are provided by the Maternity Support<br />

Worker when required and one-day Antenatal Workshops are also held during the<br />

year. Services available regardless of where families choose to birth.<br />

Meals on Wheels<br />

The delivered Meals on Wheels service provides a daily nutritious two course hot<br />

meal plus orange juice to clients in the Yarram township and frozen meals to those<br />

in surrounding areas. A daily menu offers two choices of main course and up to<br />

seven meals per week are available on assessment. Individual dietary preferences<br />

and special diets are part of the service.<br />

Personal Alert Service<br />

MEPACS/Personal Alert Victoria is a 24 hr personal alarm service which involves<br />

clients wearing a pendant allowing them to summon help without having to get to<br />

the phone.<br />

Personal Care<br />

Personal care includes those services which people normally do for themselves<br />

such as: showering, dressing, cooking and grooming but because of disability or<br />

frailty require assistance from a trained personal carer.<br />

11


COMMUNITY SERVICES (cont.)<br />

Psychiatric Disability Rehabilitation Support Service<br />

The PDRSS offers people with a psychiatric disability assistance in learning the<br />

activities of daily living, developing social skills and helping people to access<br />

community services. It is a flexible seven day a week home based support<br />

service for registered clients. In addition, a drop in centre is open on weekends<br />

for people with a psychiatric disability and their carers.<br />

Psychology<br />

A psychologist is an expert in human behaviour. Most psychologists help<br />

mentally healthy people to find ways of functioning better. For example they<br />

assist people to better manage stress, depression and family problems and may<br />

work with a variety of therapies to do this.<br />

Property Maintenance<br />

Property Maintenance includes minor works such as the fitting of rails and ramps,<br />

smoke alarms and minor household repairs.<br />

Cyclical Maintenance includes those chores done on an infrequent basis such as<br />

‘spring cleaning chores,’ cleaning cupboards, stoves, etc.<br />

Services are provided on weekdays only and on the basis of the need to ensure<br />

the health and safety of the client.<br />

QUIT<br />

The Quit Fresh Start Program aims to give people who smoke the knowledge<br />

and skills to quit smoking successfully. If a client is ready to quit smoking or<br />

would like to learn some strategies to assist them to quit in the future, then they<br />

should sign up for the Quit Fresh Start Program. Participants attend the Program<br />

twice a week over a four week period.<br />

Self Help & Support Groups<br />

<strong>YDHS</strong> runs the Arthritis, Cancer, Carers, and Diabetes Support Groups. These<br />

groups provide social, practical and emotional support to those suffering or<br />

caring for someone who has these illnesses.<br />

The CARDS Support Group is designed for clients with a chronic medical<br />

condition, such as a cardiac or respiratory condition or stroke, who would like<br />

support and advice on how to manage their health and get the most out of life.<br />

12


COMMUNITY SERVICES (cont.)<br />

Shopping Bus<br />

The Shopping Program provides community transport to enable access to Yarram<br />

shops and businesses by people who are unable to drive due to frailty or disability<br />

and do not have other means of being transported.<br />

The service utilises the <strong>YDHS</strong> mini-bus and volunteer drivers. All requests to join<br />

the shopping program are screened for eligibility by the HACC Coordinator who<br />

will also negotiate pick-up point and time with the client.<br />

Social Work<br />

The Social Worker can provide information, counselling and other support to: elderly<br />

persons or people living with a disability who are struggling to manage their own care<br />

adequately and safely at home; people adjusting to a new diagnosis or exacerbation of<br />

medical illness, disability or response to a traumatic event; people struggling to cope<br />

with grief and loss; carers experiencing burden and stress. The Social Worker can also<br />

advocate for people experiencing financial stress especially when this is associated<br />

with an illness and disability. The Social Worker can assist with Advanced Care<br />

Planning and making Enduring Powers of Attorney or with advice in situations where an<br />

application to VCAT needs to be made for Administration or Guardianship.<br />

Toy Library<br />

The Yarram Toy Library is a volunteer community program supported by and<br />

located within <strong>YDHS</strong> and is open to parents and carers of children up to six years<br />

of age. For a moderate annual fee members have access to an extensive range of<br />

toys.<br />

Walk and Talk<br />

The Walk and Talk Program provides an opportunity for people within the<br />

community to improve their fitness, meet with others on a weekly basis and enjoy<br />

a walk around Yarram. The group caters for all ages and fitness levels.<br />

Welfare Assistance<br />

Staff at the Baker’s Community Service Centre distributes emergency relief to<br />

people in crisis, to assist them to meet needs such as food, power bills and rent<br />

arrears. Staff supports people to deal with their immediate crisis situation in a way<br />

that maintains their dignity and encourages self reliance.<br />

Well Women’s Clinic<br />

The Well Women’s Clinic offers local women pap smears, menopause advice,<br />

family planning and counselling and a full health screening with a female nurse<br />

practitioner.<br />

13


COMMUNITY SERVICES (cont.)<br />

Youth Work<br />

The <strong>YDHS</strong> Youth Worker ensures young people have access to direct support<br />

services and also promotes strategies for the prevention of disadvantage among<br />

young people and their families. The <strong>YDHS</strong> Youth Worker liaises closely with<br />

schools and local government to improve access to skills and educational<br />

opportunities for disadvantaged young people.<br />

Visiting Services<br />

A range of other visiting services are also provided from the Baker’s<br />

Community Service centre on a limited basis, including:<br />

• Well Women’s clinics, every 6 weeks<br />

• Diabetes Education, once per week<br />

• Self Help and Support Groups, once per month<br />

• Drug & Alcohol Service, once per week<br />

• Continence Advice, once per month<br />

• Community Corrections and Juvenile Justice Advice, on an as needed basis<br />

• Vic Roads Registrations and licenses, once per month<br />

• Consumer Affairs Victoria, once per fortnight<br />

For information about access to and eligibility for these<br />

services please contact us on ℡ 5182 0222.<br />

Please note that fees will apply to some services.<br />

15


Rights and responsibilities<br />

The relationship between <strong>YDHS</strong> and its clients is very important<br />

and the rights and responsibilities of clients and <strong>YDHS</strong> provides<br />

a basis for the formation of this relationship.<br />

<strong>Client</strong> rights and responsibilities<br />

As a client of <strong>YDHS</strong> you have a right to:<br />

• Expect professional, prompt and courteous attention from<br />

staff.<br />

• Participate in decisions about your care.<br />

• Request access to, and receive copies of your health records<br />

through the Freedom of <strong>Information</strong> process.<br />

• Request information, in a language that you understand, and<br />

which will assist in improving your knowledge of the service or<br />

treatment you receive.<br />

• Ask any questions about the services provided by <strong>YDHS</strong>.<br />

• Ask a friend, family member or other person (an advocate) to<br />

support you in discussions concerning services provided by<br />

<strong>YDHS</strong>.<br />

• Withdraw consent for treatment, service or release of<br />

personal information at any time.<br />

• Refuse or discontinue any service or treatment you receive<br />

from <strong>YDHS</strong> without prejudicing future access to service or<br />

treatment.<br />

• Request that information provided to <strong>YDHS</strong> about you<br />

remains private and confidential unless you agree to a<br />

transfer of information to others involved with your care.<br />

Pursue any complaint about the service/s you receive without<br />

fear of retribution.<br />

16


As a client of <strong>YDHS</strong> you have a responsibility to:<br />

• Treat people at <strong>YDHS</strong> with courtesy and respect. <strong>YDHS</strong> does<br />

not tolerate harm, abuse or threats to its workers and any<br />

such incident may result in the withdrawal of service.<br />

• Carry out whatever is agreed to in terms of the arrangement<br />

between you and the service or treatment you will receive.<br />

• Acknowledge responsibility for the consequences of your<br />

decision to accept or reject advice concerning a particular<br />

service or treatment which is offered or provided to you.<br />

• Provide accurate information in order that you receive the<br />

best possible care and/or advice that <strong>YDHS</strong> can provide.<br />

• Advise us if you have an infectious disease that could impact<br />

on your care or our staff.<br />

<strong>YDHS</strong> responsibilities<br />

<strong>YDHS</strong> has a responsibility to:<br />

• Provide flexible services that are cost effective and delivered<br />

with care and skill and in a safe manner.<br />

• Provide services that meet legal, ethical, professional and<br />

other standards.<br />

• Ensure staff respects the independence and dignity of people<br />

who use our services.<br />

• Maintain accurate records of the interaction between clients<br />

and staff.<br />

• Respond to social, cultural, spiritual and physical experiences<br />

and needs of clients and carers.<br />

• Inform clients of the details of services to be provided and any<br />

fees that will be charged in a manner that is easy to<br />

understand.<br />

• Assist clients to access services where possible.<br />

17


• Recognise the role of the carer and respond to his/her needs<br />

for information and support.<br />

• Deal with complaints promptly and fairly.<br />

• Keep you safe from hospital acquired infection.<br />

i<br />

For information about other services available in the Yarram<br />

area contact:<br />

Wellington Shire Council<br />

1300 366 244<br />

www.wellington.vic.gov.au<br />

18


Consent<br />

When you are admitted as a client of <strong>YDHS</strong> we must obtain your<br />

consent to receive treatment or services. We may also seek your<br />

consent to share information that you provide to us with another<br />

individual or service provider.<br />

What is consent?<br />

Consent is your voluntary agreement to a proposed action.<br />

Consent can be express or implied. Express consent is provided<br />

explicitly either orally or in writing. Implied consent may be<br />

inferred from the action or inaction of the individual. Implied<br />

consent can be where treatment is provided in an emergency<br />

situation; where a client is unable to make an informed decision<br />

or through participation in a health promotion activity such as a<br />

screening conducted at an external event, eg, the Yarram Show.<br />

How do we obtain your consent?<br />

The health care professional arranging the treatment or service<br />

for you is responsible for providing you with relevant information<br />

and obtaining consent. You will be asked to sign a Consent<br />

Form or a Care Plan. <strong>Client</strong>s have the right to refuse or disagree<br />

with treatment or services.<br />

Under what circumstances might we want to share the<br />

information you have given us with a third party?<br />

We may need to refer you to another individual or service<br />

provider if you need treatment or services that <strong>YDHS</strong> cannot<br />

provide. You may be asked to sign consent to release or share<br />

information forms.<br />

What if you change your mind about the treatment or<br />

service? You can withdraw your consent at any time.<br />

19


Advocacy<br />

<strong>Client</strong>s of <strong>YDHS</strong> are encouraged to have an advocate if they<br />

would like to, or if they feel they need someone to represent<br />

their wishes or act on their behalf. An advocate can be<br />

nominated at any time.<br />

What is an advocate?<br />

An advocate is a person who supports another person to<br />

ensure their rights are upheld and to help them participate in<br />

decisions. An advocate may represent and speak on behalf of<br />

that person or guide the person with advice about what to do in<br />

a given situation.<br />

Who can be an advocate?<br />

Anyone can be an advocate. It could be a friend, family<br />

member, carer, health care professional or other professional.<br />

There are also organisations that offer advocacy and these are<br />

listed on the next page.<br />

Why would you need an advocate?<br />

Under normal circumstances, most people do not need to have<br />

an advocate. However there may be circumstances when you<br />

would like to or need to have an advocate to represent your<br />

wishes or act on your behalf. This may be as simple as asking<br />

a relative to be with you when you see a health professional to<br />

assist with communication or it could for example, involve<br />

another person actively seeking services for you on your<br />

behalf. Sometimes it helps to have a friend or family member<br />

with you if you need to make a decision but you are uncertain<br />

about what is happening, such as consenting to medical<br />

treatment. You are free to nominate an advocate at any time.<br />

20


If you are dissatisfied with a service provided by <strong>YDHS</strong> you may<br />

wish to nominate an advocate to assist you in any discussion or<br />

negotiation that occurs between yourself and <strong>YDHS</strong>.<br />

As a client of <strong>YDHS</strong>, there may be circumstances when you feel<br />

you are being pressured by another person to accept or decline<br />

services provided. For example, a family member may not wish<br />

you to receive a service even though receiving the service is in<br />

your best interest. If this type of situation occurs, you can ask<br />

your <strong>YDHS</strong> health professional to assist you in obtaining<br />

advocacy.<br />

Questions about Advocacy?<br />

If you have any questions about advocacy, please feel free to ask<br />

your health care professional to give you more information or<br />

contact the <strong>YDHS</strong> Social Worker on 5182 0222.<br />

Organisations providing Advocacy<br />

For Victorians with a disability –<br />

Office of the Public Advocate<br />

Level 5, 436 Lonsdale Street Melbourne 3000<br />

℡ Telephone 03 9603 9500<br />

All aspects of advocacy –<br />

State Trustees<br />

168 Exhibition Street, Melbourne 3000<br />

℡Telephone 03 9667 6444<br />

21


Comments, Compliments and<br />

Complaints<br />

<strong>YDHS</strong> expects the highest standard of job performance and<br />

conduct from all staff and aims for a high level of client<br />

satisfaction with the services we provide. <strong>Client</strong>s who feel<br />

aggrieved by the care received or a service provided are<br />

encouraged to register their complaint. <strong>YDHS</strong> takes your<br />

concerns seriously and views the process of identification and<br />

resolution of complaints as a way of reviewing and improving our<br />

services.<br />

Complaints can be forwarded to us in writing or you may<br />

complete a Comments, Compliments and Complaints form, or<br />

speak to a member of staff at any time. We welcome your<br />

positive feedback in this manner at any time also.<br />

All clients of <strong>YDHS</strong> have the right to have their complaints<br />

investigated objectively, confidently and without fear of<br />

retribution.<br />

Grievance Procedure<br />

Complaints should be directed to the Coordinator of the<br />

Department. If you are uncertain where to address your<br />

complaint our Administration staff will be happy to assist you.<br />

<strong>Client</strong>s will receive an acknowledgment or response within two<br />

working days of receipt by <strong>YDHS</strong> and will be informed of both the<br />

internal and external processes for the handling of complaints.<br />

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If the issue remains unresolved, or if the Coordinator is unable to<br />

determine the best outcome for both parties, the Executive<br />

Director will be informed. It may be necessary to call all parties<br />

together in an attempt to resolve the issue.<br />

After a period of five working days, the client will be contacted to<br />

determine if the complaint has been satisfactorily resolved, or<br />

alternatively if the client believes the best outcome was achieved.<br />

This survey will also determine if the client was satisfied with the<br />

manner in which their complaint was handled.<br />

If you are unable to resolve a complaint with <strong>YDHS</strong> you can<br />

contact<br />

Health Services Commissioner<br />

℡ Telephone 03 8601 5200 or<br />

℡ Toll Free 1800 136 066<br />

For Nursing Home Residents, assistance may be obtained<br />

from<br />

Residential Care Rights<br />

Suite 4B 4 th Floor<br />

343 Little Collins Street Melbourne 3000<br />

℡ Telephone 03 9602 3066 or<br />

℡ Toll Free 1800 700 600<br />

The Complaints Unit<br />

Department of Health and Ageing<br />

GPO Box 9848<br />

Melbourne 3001<br />

℡ Toll Free 1800 550 552<br />

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Protection and use of your health<br />

information<br />

<strong>YDHS</strong> is bound by a number of State and Federal laws with<br />

regards to privacy and the use of personal and health<br />

information. This section will provide you with information on<br />

how we protect and use your health information.<br />

Why do we collect your health information?<br />

<strong>Information</strong> about your health is recorded in your health care<br />

record for the purposes of planning your care and treatment.<br />

The health care record contains your name, address, contact<br />

details and other information such as the problem for which you<br />

seek treatment and the treatment advice you were given. This<br />

information is collected and updated by the health professional<br />

every time you seek treatment.<br />

To safeguard your own health we ask that you provide us with<br />

accurate and complete information. Withholding relevant<br />

information may put your health at risk.<br />

What happens to your Health <strong>Information</strong>?<br />

<strong>Information</strong> about your health is recorded in a health care<br />

record, which is securely stored in a designated area.<br />

<strong>Information</strong> is also stored in our computer system. This means<br />

that health information is available electronically to healthcare<br />

professionals at <strong>YDHS</strong> who are involved in your care. In an<br />

emergency situation we will release information to facilitate<br />

your care in accordance with the guidelines of the Health<br />

Services Commissioner.<br />

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Certain personal and health information, once collected, is<br />

required to be kept for periods of time by law and disposed of<br />

after the specified time. <strong>YDHS</strong> abides by the laws required for<br />

the storage and disposal of health and personal information.<br />

Please contact the Privacy Officer at <strong>YDHS</strong> for more information<br />

if required.<br />

When you go home from hospital we will send a discharge<br />

summary to your local doctor if you agree to this. This<br />

summarizes your stay in hospital, your medication and any<br />

special instructions we need your doctor to know about. If you do<br />

not wish this information to be sent to your doctor please let your<br />

nurse know as soon as possible.<br />

We may also share information relevant to your ongoing care<br />

with other health or professional services that are providing you<br />

with support.<br />

In some circumstances, <strong>YDHS</strong> is obligated by law to release<br />

information about you. For example, we report notifiable<br />

diseases to the Department of Human Services (Victoria).<br />

Your health information may also be used at <strong>YDHS</strong> for quality<br />

improvement activities and teaching to help staff review the care<br />

they provide. We remove personal identifying information for<br />

these purposes.<br />

<strong>Information</strong> is only made available for research projects, which<br />

have been approved by an Ethics Committee. Individuals who<br />

carry out research must follow strict guidelines and maintain<br />

confidentiality of the information they access. No personal,<br />

identifiable information, apart from that described in this Guide<br />

will leave this health service without your prior consent.<br />

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How do we protect your Health <strong>Information</strong>?<br />

Everyone working at <strong>YDHS</strong> has a legal duty to keep information<br />

about you confidential. We only pass on information about you if<br />

you authorised us to do so or it is required by law. Wherever we<br />

can, we remove details that identify you. Anyone who receives<br />

information from us is also under a legal duty to keep it<br />

confidential. <strong>YDHS</strong> endeavors to ensure that staff only have<br />

access to the specific information they require to provide your<br />

treatment, in other words staff only have access to information on<br />

a “need to know” basis.<br />

How can you access your Health <strong>Information</strong>?<br />

Under the Freedom of <strong>Information</strong> Act you have, in most<br />

circumstances, the right to access your health care record and<br />

the right to amend it if necessary. Requests to access your<br />

health care record should be made in writing to the Executive<br />

Director.<br />

How can you get more information about privacy?<br />

Additional information can be found at www.health.vic.gov.au/hsc<br />

or www.dhs.vic.gov.au/privacy<br />

If you have any concerns regarding privacy or confidentiality,<br />

please let us know. You can contact the Privacy Officer or<br />

Executive Director.<br />

Based, with permission, on “Protection and use of your Health <strong>Information</strong>” –<br />

West Gippsland HealthCare Group – Jan 2002.<br />

References<br />

“Telling your patients about Health <strong>Information</strong> Privacy” – Department of<br />

Human Services (Victoria)<br />

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How can you be involved at <strong>YDHS</strong>?<br />

Consumer participation is welcome at <strong>YDHS</strong>. There are<br />

numerous ways you can be involved, for example you could–<br />

Nominate for the Board of Management –<br />

nominations are called and the application process advertised<br />

in the Yarram Standard News around June each year.<br />

Complete a <strong>Client</strong> Satisfaction Survey<br />

Discuss ideas and issues with staff<br />

Provide feedback on the annual Quality of Care<br />

Report<br />

Attend the Annual General Meeting<br />

Become a volunteer<br />

Contact our Volunteer Coordinator on 5182 0222 to discover<br />

the many and varied ways you can contribute to programs and<br />

the quality of life of our clients<br />

Participate in some of our programs<br />

Printed: November 2005<br />

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