Patient Activated Care Team (PACT) We encourage you to speak up if you have treatment concerns. We understand that sometimes you may notice small changes in how you are feeling that others don’t see. Those small things can be an important sign that something is not right. We want you to feel confident and safe to tell us if something doesn’t feel right. If you or your family have concerns about your care you can seek help by activating a Patient Activated Care Team (PACT) review.

Patient Activated Care Team (PACT)

Activate a PACT review

If you are worried or concerned about care being provided you can:

Ask any Bendigo Health staff member to assist you in initiating a PACT review.

This can be anyone like a nurse, a doctor, a cleaner, a food service worker, a physio. It does not need to be staff directly caring for you.

If you are calling from outside the hospital you can call 5454 6000 and inform the operator that you are “wanting to activate a Patient Activated Care Team”. You will need to give the patient’s name and the ward to be able to direct the call.

Once a PACT review is activated, a patient review will occur within 5 minutes.

COMMON QUESTIONS

What if my concerns are not being heard by the doctors or nurses providing care?

During business hours you can ask to speak with the:

  • Nurse Manager
  • Director of Nursing
  • Head of the Medical Division.

 If you feel like your concerns are not being heard/resolved quickly enough you can call a PACT review. After hours, ask any Bendigo Health staff member to assist you to activate a PACT review.

 

What is a PACT review?

A PACT review is a patient assessment conducted by an experienced medical team independent of the doctors and nurses providing care.

 Who can call a PACT review?

Anyone can request a PACT review by:

  • Asking any Bendigo Health staff member to assist you to call for and activate a PACT review

You can ask any member of staff including a cleaner, food service staff, a physio etc. It does not need to be the doctor or nurse looking after you or your loved one. Staff will assist you.

 

Why do we ask that staff assist you to initiate a PACT review?

Allowing staff to support you to activate the PACT review by placing the call means:

  • staff can use the hospitals internal emergency number to activate the review team
  • the patient’s exact location can be quickly and accurately relayed for the review team to respond.

Both of which, ensures that you receive a review and response as quickly as possible.

 Who makes up the PACT review team?

The PACT team is generally a:

  • senior Intensive Care Unit (ICU) doctor
  • senior ICU nurse
  • medical registrar.

 What can you expect from a PACT review?

The PACT team will attend after the PACT call is activated and:

  • listen to your concerns
  • examine/review the patient
  • consult with the treating team
  • make an independent assessment of the care/treatment being provided.

The PACT team will then explain the outcome of their assessment to you and the treating team. This may include identifying alternative treatment options or to confirm that the current treatment plan is appropriate.

We will do all we can to relieve any anxiety and resolve your concerns because that is what a PACT review is for.

Will I or my family be treated differently if we raise our concerns or call for a PACT review?

No. At Bendigo Health we want to work with you to deliver the best care possible. We recognise that you may pick up on things that we may not and we value and want to hear your concerns.

To activate a PACT, please speak with any Bendigo Health staff member and they will place

the call on your behalf.

We want to work with you, our consumers, to deliver the best care possible.

 

Training and Education – Clinical Schools

Bendigo Health is a teaching and training hospital for medical, nursing and allied health professionals.

These students, under the supervision of an experienced member of staff, may be part of your care team.

If for any reason you would prefer not to be treated by a supervised student, please do not hesitate to let a staff member know.