For Health Practitioners
The following information is provided to inform health providers that are seeking information and services for their client / patient. This section provides addition information relating to Whitehorse Community Health Service (WCHS) services and programs with links to content within the site as appropriate.
Page Content:
- Summary of Services
- Specific Eligibility
- Specific Fees Information
- Making a Referral
- Brochures
- Partners
Organisational Chart
Whitehorse Community Health Service operates under the governance of a Board.
The Chief Executive Officer and Management Team - comprising General Managers of four key program areas - Corporate Services, Oral Health, Health Development and Primary Health Care, the Manager Strategic Projects, the Manager Business Development and the Executive Assistant guide the daily operational activities.
All staff receive direct line management and supervision via a Team Leader or General Manager.
Summary of Services
WCHS provides services and programs funded via a variety of funding sources. These include:
Community Health Program (CHP) which incorporates Early Intervention in Chronic Disease (EICD) - including a range of allied health services and programs; health promotion activities; and our chronic disease management program
Home and Community Care (HACC) - providing a range of targeted allied health services, delivered in centre and on a domicilliary basis.
Vic Health
For information on all services please click here.
Brochure Link
For a downloadable brochure regarding our services, please click here. The brochures are listed alphabetically.
Specific Eligibility
Services are available to people who work, live or study in the City of Whitehorse and we prioritise our services for people on low-medium incomes and holders of Health Care cards or Pension cards. Some of our services are provided for particular age groups, health conditions or disabilities, such as services to help frail older people and their carers continue managing independently in their homes; or services for young children (0-6 years).
Please check the tables within the 'Who Can Use Our Services' Alternatively there are links below to some of the specific service areas to which you may wish to refer.
Jump to:
- Allied Health Services
- Children's Services
- Counselling Services
- Dental (Oral Health) Services
- Diabetes Services
- Men's Health Services
- Groups and Programs
Specific Fees information
The standard Department of Health fees policy that applies to WCHS public services.
The cost of our public Dental Services is set by the Department of Human Services through Dental Health Services Victoria.
No one will be denied a service because of their inability to pay.
Tables containing specific fees information will help you find the cost of the different services we offer. Additional information about all of these services can be found if you go to the drop down menu.
Table 1: Income levels and what the service will cost
The Department of Health outlines three levels of income that we use to guide us in talking with you about fees you need to pay when having a ‘direct service’ [that is a one-to-one service with one of our health professionals, except Dental] these are in Table 1.
Table 2: The cost of Dental Services
The Department of Human Services set fees for public dental services in Victoria through Dental Health Services Victoria, or through Medicare Australia, these are in Table 2. Information regarding fees within our private dental service can be found at the end of Table 2.
Table 3: The cost of our groups and programs
Depending on the group or program the cost will vary. The cost of groups is kept to the minimum possible.
Making a Referral
WCHS is committed to ensuring ease of access for all clients. A Client's first point of contact will be with our reception team who will direct the client to the appropriate point of triage and/or initial needs identification. An Initial Needs Identification is undertaken following a client’s initial inquiry. This is done by a Service Coordinator in the Health Access Team.
The Health Access Team ( Service Coordinators ) are a group of highly skilled service providers from a range of clinical backgrounds. They undertake an Initial Needs Identification process which follows on from Initial Contact with reception. It involves a comprehensive determination of the client needs, risk, eligibility and priority for service. This screening is based on the Demand Management Framework and the Victorian Service Coordination practice standards and utilises the SCTT forms and templates.
General Referrals
Our central contact number is 9890 2220
Referrals can also be faxed on 9898 8010
E –referrals are accepted via the S2S e- referral system utilising the Sctt form and suite of templates. E referral is the most secure form of client information transfer and is therefore the referral method of choice. The SCTT can be included for all referral mechanisms.
Please click here to download a SCTT http://www.health.vic.gov.au/pcps/coordination/sctt2009.htm
Inclusion of referral information assists to avoid duplication and facilitate the best possible client outcomes
Dental Referrals
Dental Services contact number is 9897 1792
All clients will be triaged (specific to pain) when contacting the service. In keeping with DHSV statewide guidelines this service ensures availability of emergency time allocation everyday.
Please refer to the information relating to emergency treatment and wait listing within our dental services page.
For Team Care Arrangements
The above fax number can be utilised.
It is preferred that the VSRF (Victorian Statewide Referral Form) be used.
Please click here to download a VSRF pdf form.
Support is available for all general practitioners via the Melbourne East General Practice Network
All team care arrangement requests will be acknowledge via fax within two working days. Once assessment has been undertaken with the necessary health professional a summary of assessment findings and planned treatment will be forwarded to the general practitioner.
Brochures
Our Brochure documents are in PDF format and can be downloaded to provide further information to clients you may wish to refer to WCHS
Please click here to access our brochures
Partners
WCHS works collaboratively with a range of partners in its local area and region to ensure best quality care for its community. Partner agencies include:
Eastern Health provides a comprehensive range of high quality acute, sub-acute, palliative care, mental health, drug and alcohol, residential care and community health services to people and communities that are diverse in culture, age, socio economic status, population and health care needs.
Eastern Region Department of Health
The Eastern Metropolitan Region (EMR) is one of eight Department of Health regions, and includes the established inner suburban areas of Hawthorn, Kew and Camberwell, a strong middle suburban band characterised by Balwyn, Blackburn and Mt Waverley through to large outer metropolitan suburbs such as Ringwood and Boronia. Beyond the outer suburbs are semi-rural and rural townships such as, Healesville, Monbulk and Warburton.
The Eastern Metropolitan region covers an area of nearly 3,000 square kilometres and includes seven local government areas; these are Manningham, Booroondara, Yarra Ranges, Knox, Monash, Whitehorse and Maroondah.
The EMR Deapartment staff work closely with service partners to provide high quality health and aged care services. In delivering these services they aim to enhance and protect the health and well-being of all Victorians.
Inner East Primary Care Partnership
The Inner East Primary Care Partnership (IEPCP) is a voluntary alliance of health and human service organizations that have agreed to work towards better planning, co-ordination and service delivery in order to improve the health and well-being of people living in the cities of Boroondara, Manningham, Monash and Whitehorse. The catchment area has a population of 608,000, which is 11.7% of the State population. The IEPCP secretariat is based at Box Hill Town Hall Hub.
In uniting as a Primary Care Partnership, there are three primary organisational benefits which member organisations aspire towards:
- opportunity: participate in projects which positively affect the organisation’s constituency;
- effectiveness: lower resource intensity working with individuals and groups, especially those with complex / multiple conditions;
- satisfaction: collaborative approaches yield greater practitioner satisfaction, as well as community members’ reported satisfaction with service provision.
Melbourne East General Practice Network
Melbourne East General Practice Network Limited (MEGPN) was formed through the amalgamation of Whitehorse and Inner Eastern Melbourne Divisions of General Practice in April 2008. Melbourne East GP Network is a dynamic network delivering leadership in primary health care. It aims to optimise patient care and the health of the community by supporting general practice centered quality primary health care.