Key messages
- The 2022–23 Victorian Budget committed a $698 million package to deliver more hospital services within patients’ homes, through home-based and virtual care. This was in addition to the $120.9 million over 3 years that was announced in the 2020–21 Victorian Budget.
For over 25 years, Victorian health services have delivered a range of services in the home. Over 350,000 admitted bed days involving a range of clinical services are delivered in the home every year, enabling Victorians to enjoy more convenient and patient-centred care.
Local and global evaluations of home-based hospital services clearly show the benefits of this type of care, including better outcomes for patients, and significantly higher patient and carer satisfaction.
Better at Home initiative
Better at Home helps deliver more healthcare within patients’ homes where appropriate and preferred by the patient, through home-based and virtual care.
The initiative was first announced in the 2020–21 Victorian Budget, with a commitment to provide $120.9 million in funding over 3 years.
The 2022–23 Victorian Budget committed a further $698 million to expand the program to help more than 15,000 Victorians access home-based care each year, in addition to telehealth check-ups.
Better at Home funding supports the delivery of more acute, rehabilitation, geriatric evaluation and management, health independence program and specialist clinic services in the home.
For information on accessing Better at Home services, please contact your local health service. To find out more about the Better at Home initiative, please email BetterAtHome@health.vic.gov.au
Consumer resources
Home-based and virtual hospital care – Better Health Channel
Announcements
- Hololens expanding virtual care in regional Victoria – April 2023
- Delivering better care at home – April 2023
- Delivering world class care for Victorians at home – May 2022
- More support to recover at home – November 2020
Webinar series
- Experiences and learnings in delivering the COVID+ Pathway – The North West Melbourne experience
- Hospital in the Home in a Rural Community, Kate Beach, Colac Area Health
- From Less to More – Transformational Growth of an Adult HITH service, Helen Richards, Monash Health
- Patient Watch – Building the Hospital Without Walls, Don Campbell, Northern Health
- Home Based Cancer Care framework and toolkit, Robyn Wilson, Grampians Public Health Unit
Updated