Emergency Information

Health Independence Programs

The Health Independence Programs (HIP) provide a range of supportive rehabilitation and chronic disease management services to people who have had surgery or been unwell in hospital,in our Urgent Care Centre, or from the community.  

They include:

About the services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A range of services can be provided at home, at the Community Health or Rehabilitation Centres, to enable improved function in every day activities. The care provided is focused on what each individual person feels is important to their health and wellbeing.  Our team helps each person to identify and create a written 'Shared Support Plan’ containing their main identified health issues, as well as goals to work towards to improve health outcomes.

The HIP team invests considerable time in communicating with nominated important people such as care providers, family members, case Managers, Doctors, specialist assessment services, home care providers, Home Nursing Service, hospitals and a wide range of community-based supportive services, so that our consumers have everyone “on the same page” when it comes to planning for their care. 

Each consumer is followed through their episode of care by a Care Coordinator. The wider team consists of  Allied Health Assistant’s, Dietitian’s, Registered Nurses, Podiatry, Occupational therapist’s, Physiotherapist’s, Speech Pathologist’s and Social workers. 

We run specific rehabilitation groups for people who have experienced a hip or knee replacement, heart and blood vessel disease, or are living with long-term breathing problems such as COPD, . The HIP team also supports people at “high risk” who may be older, frail, disabled, at risk of homelessness, have mental health challenges, lack social supports or have cultural and language specific needs.

Aim:

The aim of the HIP program is to optimise a person’s ability to participate in activities of daily living, and connect the person to services which assist them to stay living in a community setting.

Key objectives:

  • A planned return home from hospital as soon as possible
  • Achieve and maintain therapy goals
  • Provide options for treatment that are centre-based and/or home-based i.e. meet the needs of individual
  • Break down the barriers to achieving health goals by creating a ‘Shared Support Plan’
  • Prevent avoidable hospital admissions
  • Effective and timely communication with all relevant services involved in your health care
  • A planned discharge from our program
     

Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Group

Is an eight-week program with one hour education and one hour exercise group. A comprehensive assessment will be performed by a Care Coordinator and/or Physiotherapist prior to commencement of the group. Each person will be set a home exercise program which is very important to carry out every day.

The group is for people who:

  • Have had an operation to replace their hip or knee joint.
  • Feel comfortable exercising in a small group.
  • Need exercises to help their muscles to get stronger and the joint to move freely.

How can Orthopaedic Rehabilitation help you?

  • The exercise program is set for individual (personal) needs.
  • You will be connected to a Care Coordinator to help your journey through our program.
  • You will be able to get back to doing your day to day activities.
  • Your hip or knee joint recovery will improve your ability to move without pain.

You will be assisted by a:

  • Care Coordinator / Nurse
  • Physiotherapist
  • Allied Health Assistant
Cardiac Rehabilitation Group

Is an eight-week program with one hour education and one hour exercise group. A comprehensive assessment will be performed by a Care Coordinator and/or Physiotherapist prior to commencement of the group. Each person will be set a home exercise program which is very important to carry out at least five times per week.

The group is for people who:

  • Have medical problems with their heart and blood circulation.
  • Are recovering from heart surgery.
  • Have long-term heart and circulation problems that cause shortness of breath.

How can Cardiac Rehabilitation help you?

  • Improve your muscle strength.
  • Learn how to manage your heart condition and medications.
  • Confidence to ask your doctor questions.
  • To feel supported and that you are not alone.
  • Confidence to get back to doing day to day activities.
  • Support to work towards QUIT smoking (if needed).
  • You will be connected to a Care Coordinator to help your journey through our program.

You will be assisted by a:

  • Care Coordinator / Nurse
  • Physiotherapist
  • Allied Health Assistant

What to bring:

  • Your walking aid
  • Wear flat enclosed shoes
  • Comfortable clothes
  • Support person welcome
  • Emergency medication

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Group

Is an eight week program with one hour education and one hour exercise group. A comprehensive assessment will be performed by a Care Coordinator and/or Physiotherapist prior to commencement of the group. Each person will be set a home exercise program which is very important to carry out at least five times per week.

The group is for people who:

  • Have medical problems with their lungs.
  • Often feel short of breath.
  • Can find it difficult to do their day-to-day activities due to breathlessness.

 How can lung rehabilitation help you?

  • Improve your muscle strength.
  • Breathe easier.
  • Learn how to manage your lung condition and medications.
  • Confidence to ask your doctor questions.
  • To feel supported and that you are not alone.
  • Confidence to get back to doing day to day activities.
  • Support to work towards QUIT smoking (if needed).
  • You will be connected to a Care Coordinator to help your journey through our program.

You will be assisted by a:

  • Care Coordinator / Nurse
  • Physiotherapist
  • Allied Health Assistant

What to bring:

  • Your walking aid
  • Wear flat enclosed shoes
  • Comfortable clothes
  • Support person welcome
  • Emergency medication

Special Instructions

Please let us know if you need to exercise using oxygen.

Post Acute Care Program

This program is a 28 day program for people who:

  •  Have limited supports at home and are leaving hospital.
  •  Have been a public patient in a public hospital.
  •  Are a Benalla Rural City resident.
  •  Need short term supports to help their recovery after leaving hospital.
  •  Need help to get back to doing their day to day activities.
  •  Need help to connect to longer term supports (if needed).

 The services that you receive will depend upon:

  • Why you have been in hospital.
  • Your recovery needs.
  •  Family supports.
  •  Other community supports available.

Limited services:

  • Wound care
  • Support to have a shower
  • Support to shop for food
  • Home cleaning
  • Transport to medical appointments 
  • In home respite

Chronic and complex care conditions

Chronic and complex care is for people who:

  • Are often unwell and are admitted to hospital or at risk of going to hospital.
  • Have long-term health conditions.
  • Need help to better understand and manage their health conditions.
  • Need health care services in their own home.  
  • Need help to connect to other services in the community.
  • Are a Benalla Rural City resident.

The services that you receive and the length of time in this program will depend upon:

  • Why you have been in hospital.
  • Your recovery needs.

How can chronic and complex care help you?

  • Connect you to longer term supports (if needed).
  • Confidence to ask your doctor questions.
  • To feel supported and that you are not alone.
  • Learn how to manage your health conditions and medications.
  • Confidence to get back to doing your day to day activities.
  • You will be connected to a Care Coordinator to help your journey through our program.

Falls and Balance Exercise Group

Is a 6 week program with one hour exercise group sessions. A comprehensive assessment will be performed by an Exercise Physiologist or Physiotherapist prior to commencement of the group.

The group is for people who:

  • Have experienced a fall or at risk of falls.
  • Do not feel confident with their own balance.
  • Feel comfortable exercising in a small group.
  • Need exercises to help improve balance, strength and flexibility.

How can Falls and Balance Exercise Group help you?

  • The exercise program is set for individual (personal) needs.
  • You will be connected to a Care Coordinator to help your journey through our program.
  • You will be able to get back to doing your day to day activities.
  • Education, advice and support.
  • Each person receives their own personal exercise program, and is encouraged to keep this up at home.

You will be assisted by a:

  • Exercise Physiologist and/or Physiotherapist
  • Allied Health Assistant

What to bring:

  • Your walking aid (if required)
  • Wear flat enclosed shoes
  • Comfortable clothes
  • Support person welcome

More Information

Referrals: Anyone can make a referral to our services including all healthcare professionals, you or your carer. For self-referrals, a health summary from your GP should be included.

Benalla Health Intake
Monday – Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm
Phone: 03 5761 4500
Email: intake@benallahealth.org.au
Fax: 03 5761 4502

Waiting Times: Waiting times can vary depending on the service you wish to access. All referrals to our services are assessed and prioritised according to your care needs.

Cost: We offer both Government-funded and client-funded services. Fees are kept to the minimum amount and will vary between programs. Information regarding relevant fees will be provided to you individually.

Interpreters: If required, an interpreter can be arranged to attend the appointment with you.