General Information
La Trobe Private Hospital offers a high standard of accommodation with both private and shared rooms. All rooms have ensuite facilities specifically designed for maximum access.
Our rooms all have personal bedside televisions, with radio, telephones and nurse call facilities.
Local calls are free of charge.
We also offer free Wi-Fi onsite.
On the day of Admission:
Upon arrival, please visit main reception and one of our friendly team will direct you to the La Trobe Admissions area, where your admission process will be finalised.
Please arrive 10 minutes early to allow enough time to park
Access to services:
Access to any of the services offered at La Trobe Private Hospital is available via referral. Your local GP, physician, surgeon or allied health professional will be able to assist you with obtaining a referral to a private specialist who is accredited at the hospital and who can organise your admission or enrolment into a program. During your stay you will be under the direct care of this private specialist who will from time to time be assisted by other accredited private specialists and hospital staff.
Once your admission has been arranged one of our friendly administrative staff will perform a Health Fund Eligibility Check prior to your admission to La Trobe Private Hospital to ensure that your Health Fund will cover you for your admission.
If your account is subject to Work Cover, Third Party Insurance or the Department of Defence, approval must be confirmed in writing from your insurance company accepting liability for your admission prior to your admission to La Trobe Private Hospital.
It is not recommended that patients bring in electrical items i.e. hair dryers, electric shavers and radios. If there is an electrical item that you will require during your stay, our Maintenance Department are required to check the equipment prior to usage.Patients may use computers however there is no responsibility accepted by the hospital for loss or damage to your personal computer.
To assist with communication, phone interpreters can be arranged for non-English speaking patients and/or their carers. A fee may be charged to patients for this service. Please notify your nurse if this service is required.
Insured patients and private health insurance
Healthscope has agreements with the majority of private health funds to cover the hospital charges for your admission.
Depending on your level of cover, some policies require you to pay an excess or co-payment and you will be asked to pay this prior to, or on admission.
In addition, health fund policies require members to serve waiting periods before they will provide cover, and some levels of cover have excluded services.
Pre-existing ailment rules may also apply and your cover may be subject to these rules. We therefore strongly recommend that you contact your health fund to confirm your cover prior to your admission.
Your account for hospitalisation will include your accommodation and theatre fees and other chargeable items in accordance with Healthscope's current fee agreement with your health fund.
You will be asked to complete and sign a health insurance claim form on admission. We will submit your claim directly to your health fund on your behalf.
It is important that you know that in the event that your health fund rejects your claim for reimbursement for any reason, the hospital will seek to recover any amounts outstanding from you. This is why it is important that you check your level of cover with your health fund prior to admission.
Please note that you may receive invoices from other relevant service providers eg. Radiology, pathology and Pharmacy.
Self funded / without private health fund cover
If you are a self funded patient you may be required to pay an estimate of the total amount of the hospital account prior to admission to confirm your booking or the estimated total cost on admission.
You will be required to pay any positive difference in your account on discharge. If the amount paid by you was in excess of the amount required to cover the cost of your care you will receive a refund from the hospital.
Estimated hospital costs will be provided prior to your admission by your Doctor or the hospital. We endeavour at all times to provide an accurate estimate, but unforeseen circumstances can occur and additional costs may be incurred.
Workcover / Worksafe / Third Party Insurance
If your admission is as a result of a Workcover / Worksafe, Third Party or Public Liability claim, the hospital will require prior written approval for your admission from the relevant insurance company. Your admission cannot be confirmed or proceed until this approval is received.
Any claims that have not been approved by the insurance company will be treated as a self funded admission and the estimated hospital costs will be payable by you.
Payment methods prior to or on admission, the hospital accepts cash, bank cheques, money orders, EFTPOS, Visa and MasterCard for any amounts payable. A credit card surcharge of 1.5% applies for VISA and MasterCard. Personal cheques are not accepted.
If choosing to pay by EFTPOS, please note that most financial institutions have a daily limit of $1,000.
Incoming mail is sorted and distributed each weekday. Mail for discharged patients will be re addressed and forwarded. Stamped mail may be handed to reception staff for posting.
Family and close friends may enquire about your condition by calling the ward on:(03) 9473 8700
Patients are asked to leave valuables at home. If you inadvertently arrive with jewellery, large amounts of money or any other valuables, please ask family members to take them home.
Ministers of religion are available and will visit you upon request and requests can be made to nursing staff.
Discharge
According to your recovery, your Doctor will inform the nursing staff when you are ready to be discharged. They will help you make the necessary personal arrangements to be collected from hospital by a designated person, family member or friend.
Patients are collected from the La Trobe discharge lounge, located on the ground floor of the hospital.
Discharge time is 10.00am
Before you leave:
You will be asked to stop at the Admissions Desk on the way out to ensure all accounts are settled on the day of discharge. On the weekend and after normal office hours, the hospital will send an account to your given address. Accounts cannot be settled by nursing staff.
Before discharge please remember to:
- Collect medication brought into the hospital, as well as any new medications commenced during your stay
- Take home all x-rays
- Collect details of doctor appointment dates and/or letters
- Collect letter for community services if applicable
- A pharmacist will discuss your discharge medications with you prior to discharge
We recommend that before leaving you consider how you will manage at home after discharge. Will you require someone to stay with you? How will you prepare food, do the housekeeping and shopping? Will you need any special aids or equipment?
Please discuss any concerns with your nurse or the Nurse Unit Manager.
La Trobe Private Hospital is very proud to acknowledge our veterans. Please identify yourself and staff will inform our Veterans' Liaison Officer who is available to assist with any needs or enquiries. A visit from the RSL can be arranged if desired by you.