Tasmania's Care@home program expands to offer more services

More Tasmanians can now access the health care they need in their own home, following the expansion of the Tasmanian Government’s highly successful Care@home program.

Care@home’s new Acute Virtual Monitoring Program has expanded the range of short-term conditions and illnesses for which patients can receive virtual care and support to recover in their own home.

This complements Care@home’s new Chronic Disease Management Program, which launched in December 2024 and provides health coaching and care coordination supporting Tasmanians to better self-manage their chronic conditions.

Minister for Health, Jacquie Petrusma, visited the Care@home team at Cambridge to announce the two new programs.

“This expansion is an exciting step in care innovation that will deliver better outcomes for patients, while alleviating pressure on Tasmanian hospitals,” Minister Petrusma said.

“As part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future, we are ensuring Tasmanians can access the healthcare they need, when and where they need it.

“Care@home has assisted over 50,000 Tasmanians since it launched in late 2021, enabling them to manage their health concerns at home and avoid a trip to hospital.

“With the rollout of the new Acute Virtual Monitoring Program (AVMP), Tasmanians with short-term illnesses like UTIs, cellulitis and gastroenteritis can now access Care@home support, as well as patients following their discharge from hospital, and those with issues related to chronic conditions such as asthma.”

Minister Petrusma said a new Chronic Disease Management Program is also supporting Tasmanians with long-term chronic conditions to stay healthier through better self-management.

“The new Chronic Disease Management Program helps Tasmanians to manage their conditions better and earlier, with the goal of improving health outcomes in the long-term and reducing preventable hospital admissions,” Minister Petrusma said.

“It is targeted at those with the highest risk of hospital presentation or readmission due to conditions such as heart failure, diabetes, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, as well as those living with long-term chronic conditions.

“This state-wide nurse-led service offers tailored virtual support, with a primary focus on health coaching and education, care navigation, and care coordination.”

Care@home is available 7 days a week, bringing together a highly skilled team of Nurses, Pharmacists, Social Workers, Allied Health Navigators, and GPs to deliver comprehensive patient-centred care for acute and chronic conditions.

For more information about Care@home, visit: Care@home | Tasmanian Department of Health