HomeLink Healthcare’s Admission Avoidance pathway is helping the NHS to avoid emergency admissions, which in turn improves hospital flow, patient outcomes and saves the NHS money.
The case studies below provide examples of the types of patients we are able to support along with the wider benefits to patients and the NHS.
NNUH Virtual Ward service helps respiratory patient avoid multiple hospital admissions
Ron, aged 75, has an extensive medical history including moderately severe bronchiectasis (diagnosed in 1969), emphysema and diverticulosis. Ron has open access to the respiratory team at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital due to his condition. He has received care from HomeLink Healthcare on a number of occasions over the last year for recurrent exacerbations of his bronchiectasis.
On one occasion Ron was referred for thrice daily antibiotics, midline care and weekly blood tests to assess the effectiveness of treatment. He was facing a long stay in hospital at a time when his wife was in the terminal stage of an illnessSadly, at this time and when she Ron’s wife was receiving end of life care. Sadly , and during his 14 days’ treatment, his wife passed away.
HomeLink Healthcare work collaboratively with the respiratory team in the hospital for bronchiectasis patients and Ron is one of a number of patients who we provide treatment to on a Virtual Ward in their own homes.
Patient at QEH avoids hospital admission and multiple GP appointments
Brian, aged 68, has Type 2 diabetes which is controlled by tablets. Brian stood on a stone which penetrated through his footwear and lodged into the ball of his foot. He couldn’t feel pain or discomfort and was unaware of the injury which his wife noticed. The GP referred Brian to the diabetic foot clinic at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kings Lynn (QEH) where an X-ray indicated an infection in the bone.
Patients who are deemed fit to avoid hospital admission are referred by Consultants and specialist nurses in the Outpatient team to the QEH at Home team (a partnership between the hospital and HomeLink Healthcare). The Consultant referred Brian to us so that we could administer IV antibiotics at home three times a day. During these visits we also provided wound care and blood testing as required. As well as avoiding a hospital admission, the service freed up capacity in his GP practice, where he would otherwise have needed three appointments a week with the GP practice nurse.
After five days, the Consultant reviewed the results and advised for antibiotics to continue for a further seven days with ongoing wound care and blood tests.
Brian was very happy to be treated at home as he had experienced two hospital admissions for surgery in the last six months. He remained under QEH at Home care to complete his treatment enabling him to avoid another hospital admission that would have blocked a much–needed bed for weeks.
The wider benefits for Admission Avoidance patients
By treating patients like Ron and Brian at home we are able to prevent recurrent hospital admissions, improve patient experience and help improve patient flow.
Bed days saved: On average HomeLink Healthcare Virtual Wards save 9 hospital bed days per patient. In Ron’s case this service saved the hospital 14 bed days and in Brian’s it was 12 days.
Better patient experience and outcomes: Research by the British Geriatrics Society shows that there are similar outcomes for those allocated to hospital at home versus hospital admission for the main outcome of living at home. The research found a reduction in admission to new long-term residential care and high levels of patient satisfaction for hospital at home.
HomeLink Healthcare’s own clients report a self-reported average 9.3% improvement in all health outcomes. 98% of HomeLink Healthcare’s patients would highly recommend our services to their friends and family.
Work with us
Find out more about HomeLink Healthcare’s Hospital at Home services and the process of commissioning HomeLink Healthcare to set up a hospital at home service.
Get in touch
To speak to a member of our team about our services or to book a FREE feasibility study, call us on (020) 3137 5370 or contact us.
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