RDNS and Healthways join to provide nursing treatment
Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) and Healthways Australia have entered into an agreement which will lead to the nationwide provision of comprehensive and integrated out-of-hospital nursing and allied health services, together with telephonic and web based health support and telemonitoring.
As a result of the collaboration, patients will have access to integrated care at home that includes nursing, allied health, domiciliary care, care-co-ordination, telephonic and web-based care support and telehealth monitoring.
RDNS is Australia’s largest provider of home nursing services and largest employer of district nurses. Healthways Australia provides personalised population health support services in Health and Wellness, Chronic Disease Support, Care Co-Ordination and Corporate Health.
Key features of the Healthways service include telephone-based support services (nurse and health coach) to improve patients’ health and wellbeing and tools for measuring current health, assessing health risks, and preventing future health problems.
RDNS chief executive officer, Dan Romanis said, “This is the first time in Australia that people who are at risk of going to hospital, or have just left hospital, will be able to receive a totally coordinated and integrated approach to care in their home setting.”
“A patient being discharged after a hip replacement or heart attack; or coping with an end of life condition will receive the face-to-face care they require, while also being monitored and supported telephonically,” he said.
“This model of care offers a unique opportunity to reduce the need for hospitalisation, decrease the average length of stay in hospital, and improve health outcomes for patients.
“Our services will be applicable in all areas of healthcare: rehabilitation, palliative care, aged care, veteran affairs, Hospital in the Home and hospital substitution,” Mr Romanis said.
