FAQ
In all situations, the patient is seen or contacted by a member of the Hospital@Home team at least once a day, and up to three times a day, where required. Sometimes, patients may be requested to attend a diagnostic centre/hospital.
All patients accepted into the programme are deemed to be under the direct care of the Rizcare Hospital@Home Clinical Director. For the actual care plan, required therapy and prescription will initially be the decision of the referring physician. And this therapy may be changed by the Hospital@Home physician in consultation with the referring consultant. At all times the best clinical interest of the patient is central to the operation of the service. All referring physicians will be readily able to contact the Hospital@Home team through the relevant channels to discuss or monitor patient progress.
Yes, all medication and equipment can br provided by the Hospital@Home team. Patients referred from hospitals will have a care plan agreed, in consultation with the referring hospital physician.
Data suggests that a percentage (between 4% - 6%) may require re-admission to hospital while being cared for in the programme. Re-admission protocols exist for all clinical conditions treated. A decision on re-admission is made by the Hospital@Home Clinical Director in consultation with the medical and nursing team attending the patient.
Patients will be discharged from the service by the Hospital@Home team and discharge letter will be sent directly to their GP or other appropriate managing physician.
Patients may be referred to the service by a GP, or a Consultant who is registered with Healthcare. Referrals can be made from.
- GP or Consultant's rooms (outpatient)
- Clinics or Health Centres
- Emergency departments or in-patient wards in one of the following hospitals:
Note: Referrals from hospitals (listed in the Directory of Hospitals) outside of this area may be considered if the patient lives in the current catchment areas - such cases should be discussed with Hospital@Home.
This consensus definition of Hospital at Home was presented at the World Hospital at Home Congress in Barcelona on 30th March 2023, by Professor Michael Montalvo:
Hospital at Home is an acute clinical service that takes staff, equipment, technologies, medication, and skills usually provided in hospitals and delivers that hospital care to selected people in their homes or in nursing homes. It substitutes for acute inpatient hospital care.
Hospital at Home IS:
- Subject to regulatory and governance obligations
- Care is hospital-directed by specialist physicians
- Fully responsible for the patient, providing all medical, nursing and allied healthcare
- Diagnostics, therapeutics and observation are delivered at home during the episode of care
- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Hospital at Home is NOT:
- Outpatient care (thus, not self-administered intravenous treatment, and not OPAT)
- A hospital prevention programme
- A community-based chronic disease management programme
- Solely virtual care or remote telemonitoring
- Day facility-based treatment
- Primary home care
- Community nursing or standard skilled home healthcare