Victoria - Public Hospitals Policy and Funding Guidelines 1997-1998
Section A: Policy

7.1 Post Acute Care Program

In 1997-98, the PAC Program will be extended to cover new metropolitan and rural areas.

The objectives of the PAC Program are to:

For the purposes of the PAC program, post acute care is a time limited short term intervention designed to assist patients to recuperate following an acute hospital admission and to facilitate the transition to continuing care where required. It entails the coordination and provision of health and community care services such as home nursing, personal care, child care, allied health services and home help following discharge from hospital. The PAC program provides additional services where required and acts to augment the current service system, not to substitute existing services.

Six pilot projects were established during 1996 involving consortia of divisions of general practice and acute, community health and community care agencies. (Metropolitan projects are auspiced by the Western Health Care Network, Inner South East Community Health Alliance and Southern Health Care Network. Rural projects are auspiced by Geelong Community Health Services, Wangaratta and District Base Hospital and Stawell District Hospital).

The 1997-98 PAC Program has three components; the continuation of existing pilot projects; the establishment of new projects, and the establishment of the Care Planning Development Funding Pool.

Existing projects will continue to be funded according to the current arrangements with any unexpended funds from the 1996-97 financial year carried over to contribute to 1997-98 budgets.

Submissions for the implementation of new or expanded post acute care pilot projects are now sought from consortia of relevant agencies. Priority will be given to proposals which provide PAC coverage for the following areas:

  • Metropolitan:
    		•  North East, Outer East, Inner City, Mornington Peninsula, Outer West.
  • Rural:
    		•  Gippsland, Loddon Mallee, Grampians.

    The Care Planning Development Funding Pool will be established in recognition of the importance of care planning in achieving satisfactory outcomes following discharge. Funds will be allocated from the Pool on the basis of submissions to agencies participating in existing or new pilot projects for the development of care and discharge planning processes and systems.

    During 1997-98, the Department will commission an independent evaluation of the PAC Program.

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