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Community Nursing programs:

Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) Nursing
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Complex Nursing
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Fee-for-service
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Community nursing services can be accessed by clients who require wound care or medication management services in the home.

Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) Nursing

CHSP nursing service is for planned, predictable, maintenance care.

Clinical care available:

  • maintenance insulin
  • maintenance catheter management
  • skin tears, based on assessment
  • routine injections (excludes flu and COVID-19 vaccines)
  • medication prompts (in Broome only).

Eligibility

Eligible:

  • Eligibility is screened by Silverchain nurses, approved by My Aged Care.

Not eligible:

  • Age <65 years old (<50 years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)

Geographical availability

Metropolitan WA:

  • All metropolitan areas

Country WA:

  • Broome, Carnarvon, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Pingelly, Toodyay, Albany, Denmark, Warren-Blackwood, Margaret River, Busselton, Bunbury, Harvey, Collie, Donnybrook, Bridgetown.

Cost

Clients will be required to pay a contribution under the terms of the CHSP fees policy.  A fees assessment will be conducted to determine what clients will be required to contribute to their care.


How to refer

Referrals can be received from any health care professional or an assessor via My Aged Care (MAC) Portal.

  1. If the referral is from a health care professional, complete the Community Nursing referral formand supporting documentation requirements:    
    • Health Summary
    • Medication order within the referral form (if applicable)
    • Wound management plan (if applicable)
  2. Referral documents or clinical updates can be sent either via:
  3. A Silverchain nurse will review the referral for eligibility.  If the client has not been assessed by My Aged Care, the Silverchain nurse will also complete a My Aged Care guided referral.
  4. For referral enquiries or to check service availability by region, please call 1300 300 122 and ask to speak to our Ambulatory Liaison Nurses, available 24/7.




Complex Nursing

The Complex Nursing Service is available for clients who need complex clinical care. In this circumstance, regular oversight and decision making is required, though the GP or hospital clinician retains medical governance.

Clinical care available:

  • complex wound care
  • lower leg and foot ulcers
  • acute and chronic wounds
  • pressure injuries
  • lower leg skin tears
  • complex medication management
  • trial of void and complex SPC catheter management
  • nephrostomy ongoing management and flush
  • PICC/PORT ongoing management care.

Eligibility

Eligible:

  • Patient is medically stable, has a clear diagnosis and prognosis, and is at low risk of rapid deterioration.
  • Adults aged 18 years or over. However, children aged >13 years may be accepted if can be dosed as an adult, not under the care of a paediatrician and have a responsible adult present during the visit.
  • Pregnant women <20 weeks gestation.

Not eligible:

  • Clients currently receiving nursing via CHSP or DVA.
  • Clients receiving HCP Level 3-4.
  • Patients from hospitals within 14 days post-discharge.

Note: Patients discharged from private hospitals may be eligible for public funding 14 days post-discharge.

Geographical availability

Metropolitan WA:

  • All metropolitan areas.
    • In-home visits available 7 days a week
    • Clinics available 7 days a week at Kingsley, Maddington, Myaree and Peel.

Country WA:

  • Broome, Carnarvon, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Pingelly, Toodyay, Albany, Denmark, Warren-Blackwood, Margaret River, Busselton, Bunbury, Harvey, Collie, Donnybrook, Bridgetown.

Cost

No cost to client.


How to refer

Registered Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, public Podiatrists, GPs, or outpatient Specialists can refer from public hospital ED, private/public specialist rooms, some private hospitals on a fee-for-service basis and residential aged care facilities (all subject to eligibility screening).

  1. Check eligibility criteria.
  2. Check relevant Clinical Protocol
  3. Complete the Community Nursing referral form and supporting  documentation requirements:   
    • Discharge Summary or Health Summary
    • Relevant pathology/radiology results as per Clinical Protocol
    • PICC/PORT/CVC reports (if applicable)
    • Wound management plan (if applicable)
  4. Referral documents or clinical updates can be sent either via:
  5. A Silverchain Ambulatory Liaison Nurse may call the referrer for further information or clarification if the referral form is not fully completed.
  6. For referral enquiries or to check service availability by region, please call 1300 300 122 and ask to speak to our Ambulatory Liaison Nurses, available 24/7.