Public Hospital Services > Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora - Waitematā >
Early Discharge & Rehabilitation Service (EDARS) | Waitematā
Public Service, Older People's Health, Rehabilitation Medicine
Today
Description
About the Service
The Early Discharge and Rehabilitation Service (EDARS) is for adults with rehabilitation potential who require ongoing community-based therapy to achieve their rehabilitation goals following an acute event or sudden change in functional ability.
EDARS offers two rehabilitation pathways: Early Supported Discharge (ESD) and Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR). The ESD pathway delivers intensive therapy for up to three weeks to facilitate earlier hospital discharge, and the intensity will not be less than the current Assessment, Treatment and Rehabilitation (AT&R) inpatient service (see EDARS Model of care). The CBR pathway provides a less intensive rehabilitation programme.
EDARS provides:
• Comprehensive, time-limited (up to 12 weeks), home or clinic-based rehabilitation
• An Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) approach
• Tailored rehabilitation programmes shaped by meaningful patient centred goals
• Inclusion of the family/whānau/carer as part of the therapeutic team
• Tailored rehabilitation programmes shaped by meaningful patient centred goals
• Engagement with home-based support providers and other agencies involved with the patient’s care
• Transition of the patient’s rehabilitation goals and longer-term rehabilitation to appropriate community-based services or non-government organisations (e.g. Stroke Aotearoa NZ) on discharge from EDARS.
Additional Criteria for ESD:
EDARS Patient Entry Criteria:
• Adult aged 16+
• Consented to and is able to engage in therapy
• Resides in Waitematā district
• Recent acute event with significant change in level of function and ability to participate in pre-existing roles
• Rehabilitation goals and potential for progress
• Requires an interdisciplinary team approach
• Medically stable
• Nursing needs can be met at home
• Can activate a personal alarm or someone in the house can assist with an emergency
• A Needs Assessment and Service Co-ordination (NASC)/Kaikaranga assessment, if required, must be completed before discharge to determine if any or all of the following are needed to support discharge home: personal cares / food shopping / food preparation / essential housework
• They have a home environment that is conducive to supporting a short-term rehabilitation programme
• They are physically and cognitively able to engage in a short-term rehabilitation programme
• Social work screening questions are completed at time of referral, and if indicated an inpatient social work assessment is completed.
Additional Criteria for ESD:
Patient meets all usual EDARS entry criteria AND
For CBR:
• Requires and can tolerate intensive daily input
• ESD would facilitate discharge from hospital earlier than otherwise expected
• Patient has been on an inpatient ward for less than three (3) weeks
• Patient can transfer safely with the assistance of an able-bodied carer who lives with the patient, or, if living alone, can transfer independently
• ESD acceptance requires meeting the referral criteria and EDARS having service capacity to meet the patient’s needs.
For CBR:
Patient meets all usual EDARS criteria AND
• Would benefit from a less intensive period of rehabilitation at home for a defined period
Referrals that will not be accepted:
• Patients residing outside of Waitematā
• ACC funded patients
• Slow stream rehabilitation for chronic conditions that are progressive or require ongoing management (such as Motor Neuron Disease)
Ages
Adult / Pakeke
How do I access this service?
Referral
Hours
| Mon – Fri | 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM |
|---|
Website
Was this page helpful?
This page was last updated at 3:25PM on February 16, 2026. This information is reviewed and edited by Early Discharge & Rehabilitation Service (EDARS) | Waitematā.