Mobile Assessment & Treatment Service (MATS)

Health professional information

View Patient Information
MATS is a mobile medical and nursing service aimed at providing hospital-type treatment to older people in the community. Although we primarily see people in residential care facilities, we can also see people in their homes.

Clinical service overview

MATS is a part of the Hospital Admission Risk Program (HARP). Our service comprises a Consultant Geriatrician, an advanced trainee in geriatric medicine, a medical registrar, senior registered nursing staff and an Aged Care Nurse Practitioner.

We accept referrals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We aim to:

  • Optimise and support primary care management of older people in the community
  • Minimise disruption to people's routine
  • Minimise avoidable hospital presentations or admissions to hospital
  • Facilitate early discharge from hospital

Services available:

  • Medical management or advice of acute onset or chronic conditions, such as respiratory disease, cardiac disease or diabetes
  • Medical assessment and initiation of acute treatment including IV antibiotic therapy and subcutaneous fluid replacement. Common infections treated include urinary tract infection, respiratory infection and cellulitis
  • Arranging diagnostic services including pathology and radiology
  • Catheter care advice, emergency changes/replacements and education for management of urinary catheters
  • Mobile PEG program, including emergency replacement in the community
  • Wound management
  • Pain management
  • Follow up information for those who have presented to the Alfred with liaison between the hospital, Aged Care Home and GP
  • Assistance with development of goals in ongoing treatment plans for patients

For people living in their own home, see the OPCH patient information page for more information.

Refer your patient

Referral to this service

Referrals from the community can be made by calling our 24-hr phone number 1800 007 656.

To ensure the appropriate clinical information is obtained, we request referrals come directly from one of the following:

  • The patient’s GP
  • RACH nurse
  • Ambulance Victoria (AV) paramedic
  • Virtual Victorian Emergency Department (VVED) clinician

We do not accept referrals sent solely via fax or email, as these channels are not monitored regularly.

24hr phone service

1800 007 656

Fax

(03) 9076 8149

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