Inpatient Rehabilitation and Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) Inpatient Services

How to refer your patient

• Check Loddon Mallee Region map to ensure patient’s residence falls within our catchment area. With the Loddon Mallee Region Rehabilitation and GEM services are located at Bendigo Health, Mildura, Echuca and Castlemaine 
• Complete referral form and fax to referral centre as per instructions on the form: 
• To be considered for admission, a referral must include the following: 
• Medical summary, plus opinion of local rehabilitation physician or geriatrician if available at the referring health service
• Copy of current medication chart
• Copy of Allied Health Assessments
• Recent blood results
• Photo of wound for all amputee patients.

Clinical service overview

Two wards within the Bendigo Hospital provide both Inpatient Rehabilitation and GEM services:

Ward 4C:

• Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation (16 beds)
• GEM (16 beds)

Ward 5C:

• Neurological and Stroke Rehabilitation (16 beds)
• GEM (16 beds); incorporating up to 4 Acute Care of the Elderly (ACE) beds.

Inpatient Rehabilitation Services:
Within ward 4C and 6C, Bendigo Health provides rehabilitation expertise in musculoskeletal, orthopaedic, amputee, stroke, neurological and acquired brain injury rehabilitation. After illness or injury patients may require assessment and intervention to return to their best possible state of physical functioning. Our rehabilitation program provides multidisciplinary care (medical, nursing, dietetics, exercise physiology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, social work, and speech pathology). Other specialities within Bendigo Health can be accessed as required during a patient’s stay.

Inpatient Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) Services:
The primary goal of GEM is to improve the functioning of patient’s with multi-dimensional needs associated with medical conditions related to ageing, such as a tendency to fall, incontinence, reduced mobility and cognitive impairment. Patients may also have psychosocial problems. Treatment aims to maximise both functional ability and living arrangements for older adults. Our GEM program provides multidisciplinary care (medical, nursing, dietetics, exercise physiology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, social work, and speech pathology). Other specialities within Bendigo Health can be accessed as required during a patient’s stay.

Additional GEM beds are also located with the Hospice and Evaluation Unit, and Transition Care Program.