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New figures show rural communities have embraced Darling Downs Health’s Hospital in the Home (HITH) program, with nearly 140 patients treated in the first three months.
Since the program launched in Warwick and Dalby in early July and Kingaroy in September, 134 patients were admitted into the program.
Darling Downs Health Chief Executive, Annette Scott PSM said she was thrilled patients were now being treated or monitored in their own homes for conditions or injuries that would otherwise require admission to hospital.
“This program is having a real impact on our rural patients – instead of spending weeks in hospital, they can now recover in the comfort of their own home,”
Health Service Chief Executive, Annette Scott PSM
“We are also seeing the benefits in our hospitals in Warwick, Dalby and Kingaroy as the program is freeing up beds for more acutely ill people and reducing the time people spend in our hospitals.”
The top three conditions being treated under the HITH program were cellulitis, complex wound care and congestive cardiac failure.
The most common tasks for the HITH teams included administering intravenous antibiotics, wound management and daily observations.
For Dalby resident Sabra Maher, the HITH program has been ‘absolutely fantastic’ after she was admitted to hospital for a wound that had turned septic.
Instead of a potential hospital stay of up to three weeks, Ms Maher received treatment from a dedicated team of nurses at home.
“If there were any concerns, I could ring the nurses straight away and they would be here if I needed them,” Ms Maher said.
“Without a doubt, it’s the best service.”
Ms Maher said she had such a good experience with HITH, she wrote to State and Federal Members of Parliament asking for more support for the program.
The HITH program operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, like any hospital ward, with nurses visiting patients daily at home.
The program is designed to support rural patients living within 50 kilometres of Dalby, Kingaroy and Warwick.
To be eligible for HITH, patients need to be medically stable, have a fixed address, a working phone, and a safe home environment.
The program is currently funded until January 2026.