A new hospital in Canberra, established under a joint venture between Aurora Healthcare and Medibank, has officially opened.
The facility is the first of three to be operated under the iMH joint venture that will provide mental health treatment.
The $27 million Deakin Private Hospital has 52 patient beds, including a dedicated unit for adolescents and young adults aged 16 and over.
Medibank said the model would focus on continuity of care through pathways that accommodate inpatient, day attendance, in-home and community-based treatment, providing critical services for the Canberra community and surrounding regions, including Goulburn and Yass.
iMH joint venture CEO Joanne Levin said the new Deakin Private Hospital supported psychiatrists to deliver care through flexible treatment options for patients receiving care both overnight and community care.
“The iMH model aims to provide alternatives to overnight hospitalisation where clinically appropriate, by putting the doctor in the driver's seat as they partner with their patients in determining when, where and how they receive care,” she said.
“Many patients who are admitted to a mental health hospital will require re-admission. This new model of care aims to provide additional longitudinal treatment and support to patients post hospital discharge.
“A patient journey, where clinically required, may commence with an overnight hospital admission for assessment and treatment. The patient may then be referred to a case management treatment model where they are visited at home by a mental health clinician and also have follow-up appointments twice a day via telehealth.
“We recognise that recovery is a journey and people have different needs at different stages.
“The model of care at Deakin Private Hospital has been developed to deliver care attuned to the evolving needs of patients in a setting that best supports their recovery.
“By providing access to an alternative model of care, Deakin Private Hospital gives doctors and patients the power to choose the right treatment at the right time to meet patient treatment goals.”
Hirondelle Private Hospital in the Sydney suburb of Chatswood will be converted to an iMH mental health facility in late 2024. A third iMH hospital will be built in Alexandria in Sydney and is scheduled to open in 2025.