Information for Medical Practitioners & Health Professionals

• HEART SUPPORT - AUSTRALIA is a national, volunteer, consumer based organisation developed to provide support, information and encouragement to people who have a heart condition and their family/carers.
• HS-A offers services which are designed to complement the medical and allied health professionals, in providing support for heart patients.
• HS-A is committed to secondary prevention, encouraging members and clients in such a way that they are motivated towards complying with the advice of their consulting health professionals.

Heart Support Australia Heart Health Support Service members

HS-A Heart Health Support Service (HH-SS) members are either people who have a heart condition or their family members/carers. They are stable in their condition and have been carefully selected based on their personality, demeanour and commitment to supporting others. They have undertaken the HS-A HH-SS training course conducted by a qualified trainer. Volunteers are covered by professional indemnity insurance, ensuring they provide a professional and ethical service.

What do HS-A Heart Health Support Service members do?

Much of the work of the volunteer is listening to the client. Verbalising experiences and telling their 'story' is something that patients often need to do as part of the healing process. The advantage of the HS-A Heart Health Support Service Volunteers is that they offer something many health professionals do not have - unlimited time to listen. HS-A volunteers can offer their support at any time; post diagnosis, before and after surgery and through rehabilitation. They work in a variety of locations including the hospital wards, patient homes, health centres, over the telephone; any appropriate environment that is convenient to the client.

What HS-A Heart Health Support Service members don't do

HS-A volunteers do not give advice. They do not compare treatment options, health professionals, dietary or exercise advice. Their behaviour is governed by a strict code of conduct and professional indemnity insurance.

Benefits

The obvious immediate benefit to health professionals is time saved. With the opportunity to tell 'their story' to volunteers, the time the client spends with health professionals is more likely to be focused on the issues relating to their treatment and care. Patients can gain reassurance and support from our volunteers. This also helps patients regain confidence.

Services

HS-A believes that people who have undergone heart surgery or who have other heart conditions require a positive health enhancement effort for the rest of their lives. Members and clients get together for regular meetings where they enjoy fellowship and the opportunity to be socially active in a supportive environment.

This page last modified: Wednesday, 4th of July, 2007.