Calvary Adelaide Hospital
Admissions
At Calvary Adelaide Hospital we aim to give the best possible care and support to ensure your well being and comfort. In this section you’ll find information to help you and your family prepare for your forthcoming admission.
During your stay we’ll provide you with safe and high-quality care, which reflects our values of Hospitality, Healing, Stewardship and Respect.
At every stage of your treatment we’ll make sure you fully understand what’s happening, why it’s happening, and what will happen next.
Emergency services
You’ll need a referral from your GP or medical practitioner before you attend Calvary Adelaide Hospital. The referral will include the phone number to call to make your booking.
Preparing for your admission
What to expect on the day of your admission, how to prepare before your arrival and what to bring with you.
To help prepare for you and your family for admission, Calvary has produced a guide for patients and visitors:
Please review your admission documentation – which includes information about any dietary, fasting or medication requirements – and follow the instructions carefully.
We’ll also send you information detailing the time and location of your admission appointment.
If you have any concerns before your appointment, or any issues on the day, please contact the hospital using the telephone number on your admission documentation.
Via our app
You can now complete your e-Admissions via our new CalvaryCare mobile app, an innovative, new platform designed to enhance your hospital journey and give you instant access to all your important health care information right at your fingertips.
Via our website
Alternatively, click here to complete your e-Admissions via our website.
Once complete, one of our registered nurses will review your information and will contact you around one week prior to your hospital admission if required.
The Calvary Adelaide Hospital pre-admission service provides patients with information and support to facilitate admission to hospital. Our team can also assist with information and options for care post-discharge.
How it works
One of our dedicated patient services officers will contact you prior to your admission to hospital to:
Discuss your care before and after surgery
Check your health history and complete other admission paperwork
Provide you with any necessary pre-operative instructions
Check you have had any tests ordered by your Doctor
Commence discharge planning to help plan for your return home
Answer any questions you may have
On most occasions, this will be a telephone appointment, however in some cases you may be required to attend a face to face appointment at the hospital.
The Day of Surgery Admissions unit (DOSA) is a purpose built, discreet unit located on the third floor of the Calvary Adelaide Hospital. Our modern and contemporary unit provides direct access for patients requiring surgery, supported by our friendly nursing team.
On arrival to DOSA, our nursing team will prioritise the order of each admission. They will guide you through the admission process, preparation for theatre and answer and questions or concerns you may have. Relatives or friends are welcome to accompany patients during this process.
On the day of your admission please be sure to bring your:
Admission documentation
Medicare card (if you have one)
Health care, pension or concession card (if you have one)
Health fund details (if you have private insurance)
An up-to-date list of all of the medications you’re currently taking
All your medications in their original, labelled containers
Any relevant doctors’ letters, reports or consent forms
Any x-rays or other medical images
General Practitioner’s (GP) contact details including name, address and contact number
Physical and mobility aids
Nightwear, dressing gown, non-slip slippers, comfortable clothes and toiletries
A letter of Work Cover approval, Third Party or Public Liability claims (if applicable)
Please note: During your stay at Calvary, your property is your own responsibility and we do not recommend bringing any personal valuables.
What happens after your admission will depend on the reason for your visit, but we’ll keep you informed every step of the way.
When your admission is complete you’ll be fitted with an identification band to be worn at all times during your stay. The band is used to check your identity to ensure you receive the correct medications, tests and procedures.
During your stay you may move between ward areas on one or more occasions. Each time you pass from one clinical area to another a formal handover of your care will occur.
Family and visitors
Your family can accompany you through your admission and be ready for you when your procedure is completed or you are admitted to your ward accommodation.
Depending on your situation, your family may also be able to stay beyond visiting hours. But this should be discussed with a member of your care team.
Patient admission appointments take place at various locations.
Please check your admission documentation for details.
Fees and charges
Regardless of whether you have private health insurance or don’t have private health insurance, the hospital will provide you with an estimate of expected hospital charges.
If you do have private health insurance
Please contact your health fund before admission to check your level of cover, and to clarify any excess or co-payments you may have.
If you don’t have private health insurance
We welcome patients without insurance, simply call us for an estimate of costs. You’ll need to pay all fees in full prior to your admission.
Useful resources
Knowing how much your treatment will cost is called informed financial consent.
Going home
As soon as possible after admission, your care team will talk to you about a planned discharge date.
Before being discharged, your safety will be assessed against your condition and mobility, your residential situation, the availability of personal and social support and access to communications if an emergency arises.
When you’re discharged you will be provided with a formal discharge summary, a short-term supply of any new medications and information about follow-up appointments with your GP or specialist.
1. Who is picking you up from hospital?
On your discharge day you’ll need to arrange to be picked up by a family member or friend before 10am.
Please let us know so we can discuss alternative options, including our Hospital to Home service.
2. Have you made a follow-up appointment with your doctor?
You need to make a follow up appointment with your doctor as advised by your care team.
3. Have you discussed your medication?
Please make sure you have discussed your discharge medication with your care team. A medication review will be arranged if necessary.
After coming home from hospital you may have new medications to take. Please follow the instructions carefully and avoid making any mistakes with your medication.
Visit NPS Medicinewise for more information, or call your GP to discuss your medications.
4. Do you need care when you get home?
Any services that you may require when you go home will be discussed with you by your care team and, where possible, arranged prior to your discharge.
Calvary Home Care can help discharged patients with transport home, cooking, grocery shopping, dressing, showering and household tasks.
There may be a charge for Calvary Home Care services, or they may be provided partially or completely under a government assistance package.
The entire hospital and campus is a smoke free zone.
Patients, families and visitors cannot smoke anywhere within the hospital grounds.
We can help
If you smoke, please inform your care team and also consider whether this is a good time to quit smoking.
A hospital stay provides you with different routines and extensive peer support that can help you break your smoking habits and start to cope without cigarettes.
While you are a patient in Calvary, nicotine replacement therapy and other forms of support can be provided to help you stop smoking.
You have a right to receive safe and high-quality health services. Our Clinical Safety and Quality is benchmarked against National Clinical Safety and Quality Standards.
To find out how our hospital performs against national standards visit our Clinical Quality and Safety page.
Calvary protects and promotes the rights of each person receiving care.
We take any suspected breach of privacy very seriously. If you believe your personal information has been used in a manner inconsistent with the Calvary Privacy Policy, you can make a complaint.
You have a right to access your personal information, subject to some exceptions allowed by law, and to request a change to your information if you consider it inaccurate.
If you’d like to access your personal information or medical records please contact the Calvary Adelaide Hospital Health Information Manager.
If your information has been archived, we may charge a fee for searching for and providing access to your information.
Return your completed form to the Patient Services Manager by fax to 08 8405 3498 or by post to:
Medical Records Department
Calvary Wakefield Hospital
120 Angus St
Adelaide SA 5000
Your patient experience is important to us.
If you have any compliments, complaints or suggestions for our team, please let us know so we can improve our service.