Brighton Rehabilitation Unit

The Brighton Rehabilitation Unit provides rehabilitation services to adult patients aged 16 years and older who need a program of intensive multidisciplinary therapy to optimise recovery from a medical illness, injury or surgery. This service considers each patients personal goals and lifestyle choices to develop and implement targeted rehabilitation programs designed to improve capability for activities of daily living and facilitate an optimum return to function. The multi-disciplinary team at Brighton Rehabilitation work closely with patients throughout their therapeutic journey to plan and prepare for discharge to a destination which meets their needs.

Our services

The Brighton Rehabilitation Unit is a 42-bed dedicated rehabilitation facility and is operational seven days per week, 24-hours a day. Medical care is provided on site during business hours (8.00 am – 6.00 pm) and on call after hours. Patients in the unit work in partnership with a team of healthcare professionals to achieve their rehabilitation goals. The team of rehabilitation specialists includes:

  • specialist doctors
  • nurses
  • physiotherapists
  • occupational therapists
  • pharmacists
  • social workers
  • dietitians
  • speech pathologists
  • psychologists


Hospital in the Home

Brighton Health Campus Rehabilitation Unit – patient experience

Please view our latest video about the Rehabilitation Unit at Brighton Health Campus which explores the experiences of one of our fabulous patients.

Facilities

Services provided at the Brighton Rehabilitation Unit are tailored to the specific needs of each individual patient. The Brighton Rehabilitation Unit has a fully equipped rehabilitation gym located onsite, with specially designed rehabilitation facilities to support the recovery of skills necessary to increase independence with activities of daily living and prepare patients for transition to their home environments or other discharge destinations.

Location

The Brighton Rehabilitation Unit is located on the Brighton Health Campus, overlooking Moreton Bay with direct access to the Brighton Foreshore Parklands. The beautiful parklands and surrounding area are conducive to active rehabilitation and further enhance the restorative environment at Brighton Rehabilitation. The Brighton Health campus can be easily accessed via Hornibrook Highway with free off-street parking, so family and friends can visit throughout the patient’s rehabilitation journey.

Visiting hours

We encourage patients’ family and friends to visit during their stay. Visiting hours are flexible and can vary depending on the needs of the patient. The Brighton Rehabilitation Unit is an intensive rehabilitation environment, so it is important that patients can freely participate in therapy and have adequate opportunity to recover (e.g. rest periods between rehabilitation activities). Visitors can ask Brighton Rehabilitation staff about the specific visiting arrangements for their friend or relative.

Visitors are asked to consider the needs of the other patients who may be sharing a room with their friend or relative. Visitation may be restricted during medical and/or nursing procedures and in emergency situations. Visitors should not attend the Brighton Rehabilitation Unit if they have a potentially infectious illness (e.g. coughs or colds, gastro symptoms, etc.). Children are welcome to visit the unit but must always be accompanied by an adult.

How to access this service

Internal referrals within Metro North Health

All referrals to the Brighton Rehabilitation Unit must be made through a health professional. Patients who are currently admitted to a Metro North Health hospital or facility, will have their referral to Brighton Rehabilitation managed by the Geriatric Rehabilitation and Liaison Service (GRLS) or a similar service.

External referrers outside Metro North Health

The Brighton Rehabilitation Unit will only accept referrals from a health professional. Referrers from outside Metro North Health, including interstate public hospitals, and private hospitals, should email the Brighton Rehabilitation Unit directly. The Brighton Rehabilitation referrals and admission team will outline any further patient information requirements and provide you with an interactive PDF referral form to complete.

Any further questions about the referral process can be answered by contacting the Brighton Rehabilitation Unit.

Patient eligibility

For admission to the Brighton Rehabilitation Unit patients must:

  • Be aged 16-years or older.
  • Be medically stable.
  • Be motivated, with the potential to participate in a structured intensive therapy program (e.g. five days per week, 2-3 hours per day of rehabilitation activities).
  • Have impaired function following a recent medical illness, injury or surgery (not a long-standing chronic condition).
  • Have specific, measurable goals which can be realistically achieved within the planned admission timeframes.

Patients with the following rehabilitation and care needs may not be suitable for admission to the Brighton Rehabilitation Unit:

  • Limited weight bearing status which prevents full participation in rehabilitation and/or ability to improve function (e.g. non-weight bearing).
  • They are medically unstable or require active specialised medical interventions as part of their ongoing care.
  • They are unable or unwilling to actively engage in rehabilitation.
  • The have delirium, severe dementia or chronic cognitive impairments that are not expected to improve and will limit their ability to participate.
  • They currently require acute mental health services/psychiatric care.

If it is unclear whether the patients care and rehabilitation needs can be met through the services available at the Brighton Rehabilitation Unit, please contact the Clinical Nurse Consultant to discuss the referral.

Referral requirements

To ensure that the referral is processed in the shortest time possible please include the following essential information. Please be aware that referrals which do not include this information may slow down the admissions process and/or could potentially lead to the referral not being accepted.

  • Full name (including aliases)
  • Date of birth
  • Residential and postal address
  • Telephone contact number/s – home, mobile and alternative
  • Medicare number (where eligible)
  • Name and contact details of next-of-kin/carer (if applicable)
  • Preferred language and interpreter requirements
  • Cultural status (e.g. Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander).

Out of catchment Metro North Health is responsible for providing public health services to people who reside within its boundaries. If the patient lives outside the Metro North Health area and they wish to be referred to Brighton Rehabilitation, inclusion of additional information regarding their medical, and social factors will assist with the triaging of the referral.

  • Presenting condition/admitting diagnosis
  • Functional impairments / status, including both pre-existing and those relating to recent medical illness, injury, or surgery
  • Details of previous treatment including the course and outcome of the treatment
  • Details of any associated medical conditions which may affect the condition or its treatment (e.g. diabetes), noting these must be stable and controlled prior to referral.
  • Patients Rehabilitation goals to be achieved within this sub-acute admission:
    • Specific, measurable goals must be developed in discussion with the patient and be realistically achieved within the planned admission.

  • Full name
  • Contact details – telephone, fax, email
  • Date of referral

  • Clinical observations (e.g. BP, pulse, respiratory, temp, O2, QADDs, Pain score, etc.)
  • Weight, and Body mass index (BMI)
  • Infectious status
  • Current medications and dosages
  • Drug allergies
  • Diet / Nutrition requirements including food intolerances and allergies
  • Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use
  • Skin Integrity (e.g. wounds, pressure injuries, etc.)
  • Continence
  • Falls History
  • Mobility aids, equipment and assistive devices.
  • Copies of specialist’s letters/hospital discharge summaries/allied health evaluation or others correspondence relating to care received in the past from other relevant health providers, either public or private, which are relevant to current referral.
  • Results of applicable testing/imaging
  • Pending investigations
  • Patient’s clinical status / readiness for transfer
  • Time frame of service commencement
  • Upcoming outpatient appointments

  • Acute Resuscitation Plan (if applicable and available)
  • Enduring power of attorney
  • Current living arrangements
  • Home access issues
  • Community services currently in place
  • Compensable status (e.g., DVA, Work Cover, Motor Vehicle Insurance, etc.)

Contact us

Location: Level 2, Dolphin House
Brighton Health Campus, 449 Hornibrook Highway Brighton
Phone: (07) 3631 7500
Fax: (07) 3631 7504
Email:

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