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Patient Assisted Travel Service

Posted By ink6306

"Patient Assisted Travel Service"

About: Patient Assisted Travel Scheme - WACHS Great Southern Patient Assisted Travel Scheme - WACHS Wheatbelt

(as the patient),

In rural WA one can apply for PATS (Patient Assisted Travel Scheme) for trips for treatment over 100 km from home. I'm not clear if this means my home, the doctor's office, the HACCs (Home and Community Care) office, or where I have to get the PATS form. No matter what PATS does not cover treatment under 100 km away. So, 2 times, for 95-110 days each time, I drove 23 km 4 times a day (2 x up and back) to have wounds dressed.   One was VRE (Vancomycin-resistant enterococci), the other was a necrotising infection.  

I wasn't admitted, but debriding and flushing had to occur 12 hours apart. This often required a local. That is 28 x 23 = 644 km/week for 14-17 weeks. PATS did not cover it, as I was told not to bother applying for under 100 km per trip.   The 3rd time I had to drive the same distance for 5 months, twice a day, was because our heath unit would not do injections at 12 hour intervals and the RN willing to do it in my town was not permitted, (I wasn't even allowed to hire her for an hour a day to do it). How did it make me feel? Inconvenienced, poorer, angry and tired. But still alive, so there's that.

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Responses

Response from Kylie Perrella, MH Business Manager, Mental Health, WACHS GS 5 years ago
Kylie Perrella
MH Business Manager, Mental Health,
WACHS GS

Supports the AHC Operations Manager

Submitted on 4/02/2019 at 3:58 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 4:05 PM

Dear ink6306

Thank you for the feedback on the PATS service. As you outlined we are guided by the PATS Policy regarding the eligibility for subsidy on travel and this is based on distances for certain categories of medical specialist services. Our PATS team is always ready to assist, however your personal circumstances need to be fully understood to determine your full eligibility.

We are always keen to follow up on patients individual scenarios and would appreciate you contacting us to explore further. Please call 9892 2647 to arrange a discussion.

Many thanks

Juan Clark

Operations Manager AHC.

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Update posted by ink6306 (the patient)

The response was good, and helpful. It turns out I am Wheatbelt, not Great Southern PATS/ HACC. I had looked for Northam but it wasn't on the list. Marie from Albany was very knowledgeable, thank you.

Response from Sean Conlan, Regional Director, WA Country Health Service - Wheatbelt 5 years ago
Sean Conlan
Regional Director,
WA Country Health Service - Wheatbelt

Submitted on 5/02/2019 at 5:07 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 5:10 PM

Dear ink6306

Your story has been passed onto us by the Great Southern region and understand they have helped you on this occasion.

As Juan Clark advised your circumstances need to be fully understood to determine your eligibility for PATS assistance.

The Wheatbelt PATS team are available to help clients within the region to do just this and can be contacted on 1800 728 792.

We would also be interested in gaining an understanding of the treatment regime you have described in your post. As such we would really like to speak with you and I ask you to contact Mr Jeffrey Williams, Regional Nursing & Midwifery Director on 9621 0719 to have this conversation and to see if there is anything we can help to assist you with in your recovery.

Best wishes

Sean

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