Changes in models of care elicited by COVID‐19 may improve the quality of at‐home care for patients
As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) epidemic continues, attention in Australian hospitals has rapidly become more focused on methods for safely caring for patients while avoiding, when possible, admitting them to hospital or having them visit a hospital outpatient clinic. Diversion from hospitals reduces the risks for both patients and staff of cross‐infection or new infection with the COVID‐19 virus (SARS‐CoV‐2). Telehealth1 and hospital in the home2 (HITH) are two approaches for removing or reducing the need to attend a hospital while maintaining access to its clinical services. Neither system of care is novel, but each is experiencing a predictable surge in activity as the epidemic advances, and the two methods can be combined.
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
- 1. Vimalananda VG, Orlander JD, Afable MK, et al. Electronic consultations (E‐consults) and their outcomes: a systematic review. J Am Med Infor Assoc 2020; 27: 471–479.
- 2. Shepperd S, Iliffe S, Doll HA, et al. Admission avoidance hospital at home. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016; 9: CD007491.
- 3. NSW Health. COVID‐19 (Coronavirus) statistics. 27 March 2020. https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/20200327_00.aspx (viewed Apr 2020).
- 4. Montalto M, Leff B. “Hospital in the home”: a lot's in a name. Med J Aust 2012; 197: 479–480. https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2012/197/9/hospital-home-lots-name.
- 5. Montalto M, McElduff P, Hardy K. Home ward bound: features of hospital in the home use by major Australian hospitals, 2011–2017. Med J Aust 2020; 213: 22–27.
- 6. Scott IA. Public hospital bed crisis: too few or too misused? Aust Health Rev 2010; 34: 317–324.
- 7. Varney J, Weiland TJ, Jelinek G. Efficacy of hospital in the home services providing care for patients admitted from emergency departments: an integrative review. Int J Evid Based Healthc 2014; 12: 128–141.
No relevant disclosures.