Calvary Health Care Kogarah
Admissions
For all emergencies, call 000.
At Calvary Health Care Kogarah we’ll make you feel welcome, whether your admission is planned or unexpected. Our caring team will do everything they can to support you, your family/carers during your stay with us.
If your general practitioner (GP) or specialist believes Calvary Health Care Kogarah should be involved in your ongoing treatment or care, they’ll forward a referral to the Calvary Health Care Kogarah Admissions team.
What to expect
Your admission
What to expect on the day of your admission, how to prepare before your arrival and what to bring with you.
Please review your admission documentation – which includes information about any dietary, fasting or medication requirements – and follow the instructions carefully.
We’ll also send you information detailing the time and location of your admission appointment.
If you have any concerns before your appointment, or any issues on the day, please contact us using the telephone number on your admission documentation.
On the day of your admission please be sure to bring your:
- Admission documentation
- Medicare card (if you have one)
- Health care, pension or concession card (if you have one)
- Health fund details (if you have private insurance)
- An up-to-date list of all of the medications you’re currently taking
- All your medications in their original, labelled containers
- Any relevant doctors’ letters, reports or consent forms
- Any x-rays or other medical images
- General practitioner’s (GP) contact details including name, address and contact number
- Physical and mobility aids
- Nightwear, dressing gown, non-slip slippers, comfortable clothes and toiletries
- A letter of Work Cover approval, third party or public liability claims (if applicable)
Please note: During your stay at Calvary your property is your own responsibility and we do not recommend bringing any personal valuables.
What happens after your admission will depend on the reason for your visit, but we’ll keep you informed every step of the way.
When your admission is complete you’ll be fitted with an identification band to be worn at all times during your stay. The band is used to check your identity to ensure you receive the correct medications, tests and procedures.
During your stay you may move between ward areas on one or more occasions. Each time you pass from one clinical area to another a formal handover of your care will occur.
Family and visitors
Your family can accompany you through your admission and be ready for you when your procedure is completed or you are admitted to your ward accommodation.
Depending on your situation, your family may also be able to stay beyond visiting hours. But this should be discussed with a member of your care team.
Patient admission appointments take place at various locations.
Please check your admission documentation for details.
Fees and charges
This Calvary hospital is part of Australia’s public health care system and offers hospital care to any Australian resident under Medicare arrangements.
Regardless of whether you have private health insurance or don’t have private health insurance, the hospital will provide you with an estimate of expected hospital charges.
Private patients
If you choose to be admitted as a private patient, you can be treated by the doctor of your choice – providing that doctor has a right to practice at this hospital.
An Admissions Officer will meet with you to discuss your level of coverage and policy details.
As a private patient you will have access to a single room in our hospital if one is available and you have single room health cover. However, patients who are unwell will be given priority for a single room.
Public patients
Under Medicare you can be treated as a public patient, at no charge, by a doctor appointed by the hospital.
You can also choose to be treated as a public patient even if you are privately insured.
Going home
As soon as possible after admission, your care team will talk to you about a planned discharge date.
Before being discharged, your safety will be assessed against your condition and mobility, your residential situation, the availability of personal and social support and access to communications if an emergency arises.
When you’re discharged you will be provided with a formal discharge summary, a short-term supply of any new medications and information about follow-up appointments with your GP or specialist.
1. Who is picking you up from hospital?
On your discharge day you’ll need to arrange to be picked up by a family member or friend before 10am.
If you need transport or assistance getting home, please let our team know and we'll help arrange suitable options for you.
2. Have you made a follow-up appointment with your doctor?
You will need to make a follow up appointment with your doctor as advised by your care team.
3. Have you discussed your medication?
Please make sure you have discussed your discharge medication with your care team. A medication review will be arranged if necessary.
After coming home from hospital you may have new medications to take. Please follow the instructions carefully and avoid making any mistakes with your medication.
Visit NPS Medicinewise for more information, or call your GP to discuss your medications.
This hospital is a smoke free zone for patients, visitors and staff.
In line with legislation there is a limited dispensation in respect to palliative care patients.
We can help
If you smoke, please inform your care team and also consider whether this is a good time to quit smoking.
A hospital stay provides you with different routines and extensive peer support that can help you break your smoking habits and start to cope without cigarettes.
While you are a patient in Calvary, nicotine replacement therapy and other forms of support can be provided to help you stop smoking.
We also offer ongoing support and assistance after you leave Calvary.
Find out more from the NSW Health website.
You have a right to receive safe and high-quality health services. Our clinical safety and quality is benchmarked against National Clinical Safety and Quality Standards.
Calvary is committed to safeguarding the privacy of our patients and clients.
All Calvary staff, including doctors, nurses, allied heath, administration, volunteers and others are bound by law, NSW Health Privacy Manual for Health Information, the Calvary Privacy Policy and Code of Conduct to maintain confidentially and protect the privacy of our patients, clients and staff.
We take any suspected breach of privacy very seriously. If you believe your personal information has been used in a manner inconsistent with the Calvary Privacy Policy, you can make a complaint.
You have a right to access your personal information, subject to some exceptions allowed by law, and to request a change to your information if you consider it inaccurate.
If you’d like to request access to your personal information or medical records please contact the Calvary Health Care Kogarah Privacy Officer.
Return your completed form by email or by post to:
Clinical Information Services
Calvary Health Care Kogarah
PO Box 261
KOGARAH NSW 1485
Your patient experience is important to us.
If you have any compliments, complaints or suggestions for our team, please let us know so we can improve our service.