Mobile Assessment & Treatment Service (MATS)

Clinical service overview

What we do

MATS can assess, investigate and manage a wide range of health conditions, such as:

• Investigation & treatment of infections (for example, chest, urinary tract, wound or skin infections)
• An acute episode of a chronic disease (for example, exacerbation of heart failure or lung disease; unstable diabetes)
• Dehydration
• Pain management
• Palliative care, end of life care, advance care plan discussions
• Falls
• Trial of Void
• Complex wound management
• Closure of minor lacerations
• Delirium and Dementia with behavioural & psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD)
• MATS Catheter program
  • Routine & emergency catheter changes (predominantly of male and suprapubic catheters), and support to RACH staff
• MATS Iron infusion program
  • Intravenous iron infusions in the community for eligible patients
• MATS PEG program
  • A dietitian and nurse‑led service that provides routine community reviews for patients in RACH’s (or at home with high‑level care needs) who receive enteral nutrition via PEG or JEJ tubes. The service can also provide both planned and unplanned tube changes, where appropriate

Our team

We are a team of Geriatricians, doctors, nurses, a nurse practitioner candidate, pharmacist, and an administration officer. We also have dieticians as part of our MATS PEG program.

We deliver flexible, patient centred support through a variety of care methods, including:

• Face to face assessments at the RACF
• Telehealth consultations for timely, convenient access
• Phone‑based support to provide guidance, updates, and ongoing care coordination

The MATS service is not intended to substitute for the care that the resident’s GP or aged care service is responsible for delivering.

Who we care for

Residents living in RACH’s in Port Philip, Stonnington, Glen Eira and Bayside local government areas.

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

Commonly asked questions

Will the resident’s GP remain able to review the patient while MATS is involved in their care?

Yes. We maintain regular communication with the patient’s GP throughout our involvement and actively include them in care planning and decision-making. The GP will determine the timing and frequency of any of their reviews based on clinical need.

Is there a charge for the service?

No, the MATS service is provided at no cost.

In some cases, our doctors may recommend tests such as X-rays or ultrasounds through external providers. These services may incur a fee. If this is required, it will always be discussed and consent obtained from the resident and/or their MTDM before proceeding.