Recovery after surgery – you don’t have to do it alone
One of the most reassuring things about being in hospital is knowing you have expert care at the touch of a button. Every time a nurse comes to check on you, you can ask them questions and raise any concerns you might have. It’s good to know that help is also available for you at home. St John of God Health Care Ambulatory and Home Services CEO Robyn Sutherland explains.
8 Mar 2021
Hospital care in your home
When you return home after orthopaedic surgery you might feel a little worried about caring for yourself.
Going home, it can feel like you are all alone, but our home visiting nurses are able to answer any concerns or questions you may have relating to your care while delivering a high standard of clinical care and expertise in the comfort of your own home.
We can also liaise with your specialist and/or your GP, to ensure prompt and appropriate intervention is provided in a timely manner.
Through St John of God Healthcare at Home, one of our experienced home visiting nurses can come to your home to help care for your wound and general wellbeing.
Our home visiting nurses
Our home visiting nurses can provide a range of treatments after your orthopaedic surgery, including:
- complex and simple wound management – changing and maintenance of vacuum assisted closure (VAC) wound dressings and monitoring of incision wound and removal of clips or stitches as required
- drain management – monitoring, maintenance and removal
- IV antibiotics - used to treat various conditions such as pneumonia, cellulitis or osteomyelitis
- anticoagulation treatment – used to treat deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism i.e. Clexane administration.
When you leave hospital, you will be given exercises to help with your rehabilitation, medications to help with pain relief and combat infection and other instruction to assist in your recovery.
If you are unclear, our nurses can support you in understanding these instructions, including ensuring you are taking the correct medications, in the right dosage, at the right times.
We are here to help and will resolve any uncertainties you may have about your recovery process or put you in touch with the right people to have your questions answered.
We can also facilitate assistance with personal care or other needs if required.
Where can I receive Healthcare at Home services?
After surgery home nursing support is available in WA in metropolitan Perth including Mandurah, and Bunbury, and in Victoria in Ballarat, Bendigo, Berwick (south east Melbourne) and Geelong. Find out more.
You may be interested in...