Home hospitalization pilot in a nursing home
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Sheba BEYOND ran a pilot for home hospitalization in a nursing home, taking place at the Amal Nursing Home in the Sharon region of Israel. The program offered high-quality online hospital care for elderly patients, allowing them to receive treatment without leaving their nursing home and familiar environment.
Throughout the five-and-a-half-month pilot, 18 nursing home residents, identified as candidates for home-based hospital care, received treatments via a telemedicine service. The average age of participants was 85.3 years.
What did the program consist of?
Professional guidance by Prof. Gadi Segal, the manager of the BEYOND Home Hospitalisation Service, to the nursing and medical team at the nursing home, plus online hospitalisation for patients.
How was the pilot carried out?
After receiving a personalized hospital plan created in collaboration with the nursing and medical teams at the nursing home, patients were moved to their private beds in the nursing home for hospital care. The hospitalisation was conducted using sophisticated online medical technology, through a collaborative effort between the Sheba BEYOND team of medical experts and the nursing home's care staff.
Sheba BEYOND specialists conducted daily virtual consultations, employing the Tytocare system for an online physical examination akin to that in a hospital setting. This involved listening to the lungs and heart, checking the pharynx and throat, and performing other assessments.
A smart sensor device continuously monitored vital indicators, ensuring the patient's condition was constantly tracked and the data seamlessly integrated into their digital medical record. The program provided 24/7 medical support when needed, along with medical advice for up to a week following the patient’s discharge.
The nursing team at the nursing home received online medical instructions, while providing comprehensive nursing care to the patients: giving oxygen, treating wounds and administering intravenous drugs and more.
Results of the pilot
The outcomes of the pilot show that treating elderly patients in nursing homes through home hospitalisation is both safe and straightforward, offering significant potential to reduce hospital stays by up to 50%.
