How Virtual Wards Can Improve Patient Care and Save Resources.
The benefits of virtual wards to the patient.
- Improved patient safety and quality: Hospital at home can reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections, medication errors, falls, and other adverse events that can occur in hospital settings. It can also improve the quality of care by providing more continuity, consistency, and coordination among the health professionals involved in the patient’s care. Hospital at home can also enhance patient satisfaction and engagement by allowing them to stay in their own homes, where they can have more comfort, privacy, and autonomy.
- Reduced hospital admissions and length of stay: Hospital at home can prevent unnecessary or avoidable hospital admissions and readmissions, by providing timely and proactive care to patients at home. It can also reduce the length of stay for patients who are discharged from hospital earlier and continue their recovery at home under the supervision of the hospital at home team. This can free up hospital beds and resources for other patients who need them more urgently.
- Reduced costs and resource utilization: Hospital at home can save money and resources for the health system, by reducing the demand for hospital services, such as beds, staff, equipment, and supplies. It can also lower the costs for patients and their families, by reducing travel expenses, parking fees, and lost income. Hospital at home can also improve the efficiency and productivity of the health professionals involved, by reducing the time and effort spent on administrative tasks, such as documentation, billing, and scheduling.
How can we change the perception of hospital at home?
Despite the evidence and experience of the benefits of hospital at home, they are still not widely adopted or recognized as a viable and valuable model of care. Many people, including patients, health professionals, policymakers, and the public, are unaware of what hospital at home is and how it works. They may also have misconceptions or concerns about the quality, safety, and effectiveness of hospital at home, compared to hospital care.
To change the perception of hospital at home and increase its acceptance and adoption, we need to raise awareness and educate the stakeholders involved in the health system. We need to showcase the success stories and best practices of hospital at home, and highlight the positive outcomes and impacts they have on patients and the health system. We need to address the barriers and challenges that prevent the implementation and scaling of hospital at home, such as technical, regulatory, financial, and cultural issues. We need to involve and engage the patients and their families or carers in the design and delivery of hospital at home, and ensure that they have the information, support, and choice they need to participate in their care. We need to collaborate and communicate with the health professionals and organizations that provide and coordinate hospital at home, and ensure that they have the skills, tools, and incentives they need to deliver high-quality care.
Hospital at home is not just a way to save money and resources, but a way to improve patient care and quality. It is not a threat or a substitute for hospital care, but a complement and an alternative for patients who can benefit from home-based care. It is not a temporary or a niche solution, but a sustainable and a scalable innovation that can transform the way we deliver and receive care.
Hospital at home is the future of health care, and we need to embrace it and promote it.
If you’d like to learn more about how Sidqam helps provide a modular and tailored virtual wards solution, feel free to reach out to one of our team or book a demo today and learn more about our software solutions for senior living, learning disability and remote care environments.
Despite the evidence and experience of the benefits of hospital at home, they are still not widely adopted or recognized as a viable and valuable model of care. Many people, including patients, health professionals, policymakers, and the public, are unaware of what hospital at home is and how it works. They may also have misconceptions or concerns about the quality, safety, and effectiveness of hospital at home, compared to hospital care. The perception needs to change.