Fast track to recovery with new surgery model at Hawkesbury District Hospital
For patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery at Hawkesbury District Hospital, recovery is now faster and more streamlined thanks to the launch of the High Volume Short Stay (HVSS) model.
HVSS surgeries are planned procedures where patients stay in hospital for up to 72 hours. With early mobilisation and physiotherapy, many patients are walking the same day and heading home within three nights. Some are discharged just hours after surgery.
Operations Nurse Manager at Hawkesbury Hospital, Phillipa Hearn says this is a significant milestone for the hospital.
"It reflects the innovation, collaboration and integrated approach across teams that brought this project to life,” says Phillipa.
The model is supported by Ministry of Health funding, which enabled six new roles including an Orthopaedic Clinical Nurse Consultant.
Head of Surgery, Professor Mohamed Khadra says "For magic to happen in health, all the elements need to align, patient needs, staff availability, organisational leadership. HVSS has been talked about for years. Now we see it in action."
Hawkesbury Hospital has already accepted 150 requests for admission from Nepean Hospital and expects to complete 530 additional surgeries in just eight months, delivering better outcomes for patients and expanding surgical capacity across the District.