Taking treatments right into the homes
Technology is helping the cause of home health care like never before
The health care industry in the region is undergoing a massive transformation in terms of technology and advanced medical procedures. But what has really been a significant change is the growth in demand for home health care services.
There are more people who seek such services for various reasons, the most noteworthy reason being that patients are now getting the same level of care and quality nursing at home as in any reputed hospital or medical centre. If you were to ask any patient whether they want to spend the extra time in the hospital, we know the answer would be “no”. Today people prefer to receive medical treatment in the comfort of their homes.
Of all the reasons, here are the most common: the emotional comfort of getting quality treatment in a familiar environment, expensive emergency room and inpatient hospital care and, fear of medical errors and hospitalacquired infections. Technology advancements are making it possible to continue the treatment of most of the patient’s at home while only acute and complex cases need treating at hospitals. Use of technology is no longer confined to hospitals.
Laboratory and diagnostic tests can now be taken in the comfort of homes. Home health care services can also be tailored to chronic conditions such as heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes etc.
High-risk patients
It is possible to manage the high-risk patients by providing daily remote monitoring and timely intervention as the patient’s condition warrants. The challenge is to get people out of hospitals as quickly as possible and make sure they don’t need to go back for same reasons.
Hospitals should focus their services to mainly highly specialised care like cardiovascular surgery, intensive care and specialised surgery. There are various services that could move to home including primary care. And most importantly ICU beds can be freed for more critical cases by having stable patients being taken care at home.
Home health care services make it possible for patients to be on ventilators and receive medical infusions like IV antibiotics at their homes with their family around. Day care chemotherapy in hospitals has shifted to administering some form of chemotherapies at the patient’s homes.
Besides, the cases of medical errors in hospitals are critical problem in health care delivery, leaving a sense of discomfort and fear among patients and caretakers. The cost of health care has been increasing due to technological advancements and limited availability of specialised care.