Vermont Private Hospital

No out-of-pocket costs for joint replacement surgery

Vermont Private Hospital has partnered with some of Melbourne’s leading orthopaedic surgeons to provide No-Gap joint surgery for clinically appropriate patients who are eligible under their private health insurance policy.

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Level 2, Vermont South Medical Centre, 645-647 Burwood Highway, Vermont South, VIC 3133

Preparing for your hospital visit

  • Patient admission forms and information brochures

    If you have any questions about your admission, please contact our hospital staff on 03 8547 1111, who can answer any questions you may have about your hospital visit.

    • Please return your admission forms at least 7 days prior to your admission. This gives us time to prepare for your hospital visit. If you have not received a copy of this form, you can download it by clicking on the button below.
    • A copy of our Patient Information brochure can be also be downloaded below.
    • More information regarding no gap joint surgery is available in the brochure below.
  • Before your surgery

    What you need to do:

    • Please return your admission forms at least 7 days prior to your admission
    • Arrange for a responsible adult to accompany you home and stay with you for 24 hours after your surgery
    • Due to your anaesthetic, we are unable to discharge you without a responsible adult carer. If this is not possible, your procedure may be cancelled. If you are having difficulty arranging a carer, please contact the hospital as soon as possible

    For 24 hours after an anaesthetic, you will not be able to:

    • Drive a vehicle
    • Drink alcohol
    • Operate machinery
    • Make important decisions
    • Sign legal documents

    Illness before surgery

    If you become unwell prior to your admission, or your health has deteriorated, please contact your doctor as soon as possible. Your surgery may need to be postponed until you are well again.

  • What to bring to surgery

    Day surgery

    • Your Medicare card, and where relevant your health insurance membership card, Department of Veterans’ Affairs card, and/or Pensioner Concession card
    • If you are coming from an aged care facility please bring the original copy of your medication chart
    • A list of medications you are currently taking from your GP or local pharmacist. Please also bring all current medications in their original packaging
    • Any recent and relevant X-rays, scans, test results and pacemaker card if applicable
    • Any mobility aids, hearing aids, reading glasses
    • Any advanced care plan and/or treatment-limiting orders
    • Your Power of Attorney documentation, Enduring Guardianship and Advance Care Directive documentation (if applicable)

    You will also need to wear loose comfortable clothing and flat shoes

    Overnight surgery

    • Your Medicare card, and where relevant your health insurance membership card, Department of Veterans’ Affairs card, and/or Pensioner Concession card
    • If you are coming from an aged care facility please bring the original copy of your medication chart
    • A list of medications you are currently taking from your GP or local pharmacist. Please also bring all current medications in their original packaging
    • Any recent and relevant X-rays, scans, test results and pacemaker card if applicable
    • Any mobility aids, hearing aids, reading glasses
    • Any advanced care plan and/or treatment-limiting orders
    • Your Power of Attorney documentation, Enduring Guardianship and Advance Care Directive documentation (if applicable
    • Night attire including robe and slippers and/or shoes
    • Toiletries (including toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion, deodorant, soap, shampoo, conditioner, hair brush or comb)
  • What not to bring to surgery
    • Please leave all valuables at home
    • Please do not wear make-up, nail polish or jewellery
    • Please remove all piercings including earrings
  • Children’s surgery

    Children’s surgery

    It’s natural to feel anxious if your child is undergoing surgery, and we will do everything we can to make your family comfortable and relaxed. It’s a good idea to bring:

    • Their favourite toy, story book or activity
    • A change of clothes and underwear

    We will invite one parent or carer into the recovery room to be with your child after surgery. Only you know who the right person is, so please consider this carefully.

  • Fasting

    Before you undergo an anaesthetic, you will need to avoid eating or drinking anything for a specific period of time beforehand as this will protect your airway and lungs while you are asleep. During your pre-admission phone call, we will let you know when this fasting period should begin.

    You can have a very small amount of clear fluids (such as water) until two hours before surgery, but do not chew gum, eat lollies or have any milk-based drinks.

    We will give you a snack and fluids when you are in the recovery room after your surgery.

  • Medications

    Check with your doctor, anaesthetist or GP whether you should take your prescribed medications on the morning of your procedure. You can take them with a sip of water if fasting. If you take medication for diabetes or anticoagulant therapy, your anaesthetist will contact you prior to your procedure to discuss your medication management.

  • Smoking

    Please be advised that Vermont Private Hospital is a smoke free environment. Do not smoke on the day of your procedure.

  • Getting here and parking

    There is free undercover parking underneath the Vermont South Medical Centre as well as outdoor parking surrounding the building. Once you have entered the building, please take the lift to Level 2.

  • Admission

    When you arrive, please report to the reception desk where our staff will guide you through the admission process. We will confirm your name, date of birth, admitting details and doctor. These standard identification procedures will be repeated throughout the day to ensure your safety.

    Every effort will be made to ensure you are not kept waiting before your procedure, but there are times when other patients require longer periods in theatre than we anticipate.

    We’ll let you and your carer know if there are any delays and how your expected discharge time might be affected. It’s a good idea to bring a book or something to keep you occupied just in case.

  • Interpreter Services

    Please see the following links for interpreter and other services should you require them.

  • Overnight stays

    Visitors for overnight patients are welcome between 3pm and 8pm. If friends and relatives are unable to visit during these times, please talk to the nursing staff about arranging a suitable alternative.

    We offer a suite of private rooms, and our facilities include:

    • Ensuite bathrooms
    • Nurse call handset at each bed
    • Personal televisions
    • Direct dial bedside phones
    • Free local calls
    • Free WiFi access
    Accommodation for visitors and families

    For visitors and families of patients staying overnight or travelling from outside Melbourne, we have arranged for special rates at accommodation nearby:

    Quest Apartments Burwood East
    315 Burwood Highway
    Burwood East VIC 3151

    Canterbury International Hotel
    326-330 Canterbury Road
    Forest Hill VIC 3131

    Please mention you are a patient at Vermont Private Hospital to access specially negotiated rates.

    At Vermont Private Hospital your health is our priority, so we provide you with a selection of appetising meals, ensuring the appropriate nourishment to aid recovery.

    Please let staff know of any dietary requirements on your patient admission form and this will be confirmed during your pre-admission phone call.

  • After your surgery

    You must have a responsible adult to collect you from Vermont Private Hospital, and stay with you for 24 hours. This support person must be able to obtain medical assistance if required. We will let your carer know your approximate discharge time, and give them your discharge instructions.

    If you are having difficulty organising your own carer, there are overnight care services available. We suggest contacting Prestige Inhome Care or Home Instead to arrange a carer who can take you home and stay with you overnight.

    It is important you follow your discharge instructions to ensure the best outcome from your procedure. Your anaesthetist will give you a prescription for any pain relief and/or antibiotics required after surgery. These may be required soon after being discharged, so please pick this medication up on your way home.

    Please also take the time to read the section below, which provides you with important information to consider after your surgery.

    Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

    Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition which can occur after surgery, due to a blood clot forming in the veins of the leg. There is an increased risk of developing DVT after surgery due to inactivity during and after your procedure. This is because whilst lying down, you are unable to generate the muscle movement necessary to continuously pump blood to your heart.

    More information on DVT and prevention after surgery can be downloaded here.

    Hand hygiene

    We advise patients and carers to wash hands prior to attending wound care or administering eye drops (as per doctor’s instructions).

    Infection

    Please notify the Director of Nursing at Vermont Private Hospital should any redness, swelling, pain or discharge be noticed from your wound – or if you visit a doctor and are prescribed antibiotics for an associated infection within 30 days of your procedure.

    Nausea

    This is less common with modern anaesthetics. If it does occur, it should only be temporary. If nausea persists, avoid food but maintain fluids. If it does not resolve within 24 hours, it is important that you contact your doctor.

    Preventing falls

    After your procedure and anaesthetic you may be at risk of falling or tripping. Take care when moving around and we encourage you to rest and let your carer assist you for the remainder of the day.

    You can download a fact sheet on preventing falls after your surgery here.

    Preventing pressure injuries

    Pressure injuries can occur when you are unable to move for a period of time and present as a wound or reddened area of skin. To prevent a pressure injury whilst in hospital it is important to regularly change position in bed and walk or move around as much as possible.

    We assess all of our overnight patients on admission and throughout their stay to identify those patients who are at risk of getting a pressure injury.  We then provide these patients with a range of pressure injury prevention and management strategies whilst in hospital and when they go home.

    Information on avoiding pressure injuries is available for download here.

    Sore throat

    This may occur due to your anaesthetist assisting with your breathing. It usually disappears within 24 hours. Simple pain relief may help relieve this.

    Tender arm or hand at injection site

    This may occur due to irritation of the vein or slight bruising from the needle or the drugs injected, and can persist for several days. If your arm or hand look red or inflamed consult your doctor and notify Vermont Private Hospital.

    Concerns after discharge

    One of our nurses will call you a few days after your surgery to check how you are recovering. You should also ensure you have a post-operative appointment with your surgeon.

    If you or your carer has any concerns after discharge please direct them to your doctor or general practitioner – and take your discharge summary so that they know the details of your surgery.

    If your situation is urgent, please go to your nearest emergency department or dial 000.

  • Billing and private health insurance

    Vermont Private Hospital has contracts with all private health funds. If you have private health insurance, we will check your level of cover and inform you by telephone of any excess amount or additional charges you will need to pay.

    If you are having elective cosmetic surgery, your surgeon will advise you on all fees.

    We recommend you contact your private health fund to check for any exclusions or restrictions on specific treatments. They can answer any questions, and may be able to upgrade your policy if needed.

    Before you are admitted, any outstanding amount not covered by your health fund (co-payment or excess) will need to be paid. We can take pre-payment by credit card over the phone during your pre-admission phone call if you prefer. We accept Visa, MasterCard, EFTPOS, cash and bank cheques.

    If you do not have private health insurance, you will be required to pay the full amount for your admission. We will contact you before your admission to give you an estimate of costs.

    Please note you may also receive separate accounts for other service providers associated with your treatment, including your surgeon, anaesthetist, surgical assistant, pathology, radiology and allied health professional.

    If you incur any additional costs during your stay, these need to be paid prior to your discharge.

    Third party claims

    If you are a Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) patient, we will lodge a claim with the DVA for you. If your surgery is part of a WorkCover or Third Party (TAC) claim, you will need to make the full payment (apart from ancillary charges) on admission – unless we have received written approval for admission from WorkCover or TAC.

    Questions to ask your private health insurer

    Before you have surgery, we recommend you contact your private health insurer and check whether you are covered for surgery. We have provided a guide to the questions you should ask.

  • Privacy

    As a patient of Vermont Private Hospital your privacy and dignity will be maintained at all times. We hold medical records relating to your treatment, and the content of these records will only be divulged with your consent or where permitted or authorised by law.

    We will handle your personal information in accordance with the Nexus Privacy Policy which you can download here, together with some more information on the Australian Privacy Principles.

  • Quality & Safety

    Vermont Private Hospital adheres to all statutory and relevant body guidelines and Australian Standards. Our management systems aim to provide the highest level of care to our patients in a safe and supportive environment.

    You can find more information on the resources available to support safe and high quality healthcare on the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare website.

    We work as a team under the management of the Board of Directors, Medical Advisory Committee (MAC) and Director of Nursing, with the following programs in place:

    Quality management – We continually monitor, assess and improve the quality of patient care. Our quality outcomes are reviewed by the Medical Advisory Committee and are made available for consumer feedback.

    Risk management – We proactively work to mitigate risks to provide the safest possible environment for patients, visitors and staff.

    Workforce checks – Our dedicated specialist clinical staff have their credentials checked annually, and are assessed to ensure they can perform their roles so that you receive the highest standard of care and comfort.

    Clinical handover – If your care is transferred from one person to another, our systems ensure there is effective continuity. This includes your involvement in your discharge instructions as a patient or carer.

    Infection control – Vermont Private Hospital aims to prevent and limit the spread of infection that can occur during and post hospital admission through evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.

    Vermont Private Hospital has had no reportable infections in the last 12 months against a national bench mark of less than 2%.

    Hand Hygiene – Vermont Private Hospital is committed to the Hand Hygiene Australia program and conducts regular audits to ensure compliance.

    Vermont Private Hospital reports a compliance rate of 86% against a national benchmark of 85.7%.

    You can find more information on this program here.

    Falls within the hospital – Vermont Private Hospital has a wide range of strategies in place to prevent patients from falls whilst in our care.

    Vermont Private Hospital has reported 0 falls in the last 12 months.

    Pressure injuries – Anyone who needs to be in a bed or chair for a long period of time is at risk of developing a pressure injury. Pressure Injuries are most common on bony parts of the body such as the hip, tail bone, or heel. At Vermont Private Hospital we use a range of approaches to prevent and treat pressure injuries.

    We have a target of 0% for pressure injuries, and have no reported incidents in the last 12 months.

    Consumer involvement – Patients are at the centre of our care model, and we welcome your participation in reviewing our Quality & Safety reports, and feedback on how we can continue to improve.

    Open Disclosure – The Vermont Private Hospital Governing Body (Board of Directors), Staff and Accredited Medical Practitioners (AMPs) support the practice and principles of Open Disclosure.

    Vermont Private Hospital has a clear and consistent approach to open communication and disclosure with consumers and their carers,  with a view to fairness, transparency and  accountability.

    Please click on the buttons below to download more information on Open Disclosure or to obtain a copy of our Open Disclosure policy.

  • Our commitment to child safety

    Vermont Private Hospital is committed to the Child Safe Standards which came into effect on July 1, 2022.

    We want children to be safe, happy and empowered. We support and respect all children, and this is entrenched in the way we train our staff and volunteers.

    We are committed to the safety, participation and empowerment of all children.

    We have zero tolerance of child abuse, and all allegations and safety concerns will be treated very seriously, and consistent with our robust child safety policies and procedures.

    We have legal and moral obligations to contact authorities when we are worried about a child’s safety, which we follow rigorously.

    Our organisation is committed to preventing child abuse and identifying risks early and removing and reducing these risks.

    Our organisation has robust human resources and recruitment practices for all staff and volunteers.

    Our organisations are committed to regularly training and educating our staff and volunteers on child abuse risks.

    We support and respect all children, as well as our staff and volunteers.

    We are committed to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children, the cultural safety of children from a culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, and to providing a safe environment for children with a disability.

    We have specific policies, procedures and training in place that support our leadership team, staff and volunteers to achieve these commitments.

    If you believe a child is at immediate risk of abuse phone 000.

    Please contact our General Manager / Director of Nursing via the button below if you wish to view the full policy or if you have a question or complaint. You may also contact the Victorian ombudsman at the link below.

     

  • Patients Rights and Responsibilities

    We want to make sure you are aware of your rights while you are staying with us, and are committed to providing you access in line with the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights. Please click here for more information

  • Complaints, concerns and feedback

    Your opinion is important to us therefore all patients are given the opportunity to provide feedback, both formally and informally. This feedback is treated with the utmost confidentiality and may be provided anonymously. We conduct bi annual Patient Satisfaction Surveys but you are invited to provide feedback at any time.

    All feedback is de-identified and reviewed at our Medical Advisory Committee and Board of Directors meetings.

    We value your thoughts and suggestions. Should you wish to:

    • offer a comment on your experience at Vermont Private Hospital
    • be involved in our safety & quality program by reviewing our safety and quality activities
    • contribute to our publications or surveys

    Please feel welcome to complete a patient feedback form, available from reception, or alternatively you may email out Chief Executive Officer/Director of Nursing, Nicole Hall on NHall@vermontprivate.com.au.

    As a demonstration of our commitment to partnering with our consumers, Vermont Private Hospital has implemented the role of Quality & Consumer Advocate, Erin Bromley.

    If you have any suggestions for improvement or feedback, please contact Erin on reception@vermontprivate.com.au.

    If your complaint is unresolved, you can contact:

    Health Complaints Commissioner
    Level 26, 570 Bourke Street
    Melbourne VIC 3000

    Phone: 1300 582 113

Frequently asked questions

We will answer any specific questions you have during your pre-operative call the day before your procedure. Here are some answers to common queries.

  • Do I need to arrive earlier than my set admission time?

    No – we allow for this when we calculate the time you need to arrive. If your admission time is 9am, please arrive at 9am.

  • How long will I be at the hospital for?

    For a day procedure we estimate your stay will be approximately 3 to 4 hours. If you are staying overnight, we estimate your discharge time as approximately 9am.

  • Why do I have to fast?

    It’s important not to eat or drink anything for a specified period of time before an anaesthetic for safety reasons, as this will protect your airways and lungs while you are asleep.

  • Why do I need a responsible adult to collect and stay with me?

    Because you are having an anaesthetic for your procedure, you need someone with you after you are discharged to make sure there are no unexpected complications from your procedure or anaesthetic. You are also not legally allowed to drive for 24 hours following an anaesthetic.

    Our nursing staff will meet with your designated carer before we send you home, and go through written instructions for your wellbeing when you go home. This includes advice about eating and drinking, pain relief, and when you can resume normal activities.

    If you do not have a designated carer to collect you, we may have to cancel your surgery. Please let us know if you have any concerns about this policy, and contact the hospital as soon as possible before your operation date if you are having any difficulty finding a carer.

  • Why do I have to remove my jewellery and nail polish before surgery?

    This is for your own safety. There is a risk of surgical burns with metal jewellery, including piercings. If you wish to leave your wedding ring on, we will tape it.

    During surgery, your oxygen levels will be monitored with a probe placed on your finger – nail polish and acrylic nails can interfere with this.

  • Will I see my doctor after my procedure?

    Your doctor will usually see you before you leave. If you have a post-op appointment scheduled shortly after your surgery, they may wait to discuss your procedure then.

  • Why do I have to pay an excess? I already paid my account to the doctor.

    The account you paid to your doctor was for their services only, and is separate to your hospital fees. The excess you are required to pay to the hospital is the amount you elected to pay to reduce your Health Insurance premium costs. We’ve checked this with your health fund.

  • Will I have something to eat after my procedure, as I had to fast before it?

    Yes, the nurses will provide you with a light snack and a cup of tea, coffee or juice while you are in recovery. Please let us know about any food allergies or intolerances on your admission form.

  • Will you call my relative or carer to collect me after my procedure?

    Of course. The nurses will call your carer 30 mins before your discharge.

  • Is my family able to wait at the hospital?

    Yes, we warmly welcome all carers to wait in our waiting room lounge. There is also a café located on Level 1 (Ground Floor) where they can enjoy refreshments.

Level 2, Vermont South Medical Centre, 645-647 Burwood Highway, Vermont South, VIC 3133

03 8547 1111

email

Mon to Fri 8:00am - 5:00pm

Free parking available on site

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