Home Hospital
Do Home Hospital Patients Have Better Illness and Health Outcomes?
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More and more seniors are aging in place and doing their best to receive care where they are, too. Home hospital patients receive in-home visits and care from health care professionals. There is evidence to suggest that home hospital patients have better outcomes related to illnesses and health than those who stay in healthcare facilities. Where do hospital beds fit in with these outcomes? Here we investigate the question, Do Home Hospital Patients Have Better Illness and Health Outcomes?
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All of our articles are written by a professional medical writer and edited for accuracy by a hospital bed expert. SonderCare is a Hospital Bed company with locations across the U.S. and Canada. We distribute, install and service our certified home hospital beds across North America. Our staff is made up of several hospital bed experts that have worked in the medical equipment industry for more than 20 years. Read more about our company here.
A systematic review and meta-analysis by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) compared hospital-at-home interventions to patients with chronic conditions who would go to an emergency department. They found that home hospital patients had a lower risk for readmission by 26%, a lower risk for long-term care admission, and lower depression and anxiety scores than patients receiving in-hospital care.*
The Patient Safety Network looked at measured results through a program called Hospital at Home. It substituted hospital care in the home in select conditions common among elderly patients, providing daily visits from physicians and nurses, testing, treatment, and other forms of support. A review of the outcomes showed reductions in “clinical complications and mortality” and, like the JAMA study, saw better patient and family satisfaction, improved functional outcomes, lower levels of caregiver stress, and lower costs than traditional inpatient care.**
The importance of these findings was great. Turning to a hospital is a costly choice, putting financial pressure on the health system and the individual patient. The risk factors may even lead to adverse medical events unrelated to their health status. The researchers found that hospital-at-home interventions could be “a substitute for in-hospital stays, particularly for patients with chronic diseases who use health services more than other patients.”
When they turn to a hospital setting, elderly patients can face exposure to risk factors such as hospital-acquired infections, medical errors, and functional decline. Home-based hospital-level care has the potential to reduce these adverse outcomes, but how can patients make the most of these services?
Studies show that home hospital patients have a lower length of stay, costs, readmission rates, and complications than traditional inpatient care; they also have higher patient and family member satisfaction than in-hospital care. Many patients have very negative experiences transitioning out of hospital care – discharge can be abrupt, with little information about their treatment plan and next steps. Poor transitions might be the reason why almost one-fifth of hospitalized Medicare patients face rehospitalization within 30 days.**
While they hold negative opinions of staying in a hospital, many people believe that hospital-at-home care isn’t available to them. It may have been the case not too long ago, but now, patient choice and quality of care are becoming more and more essential to both health care organizations and the patients themselves. More medical equipment is becoming widely available to average patients, meeting public demand, an aging population, and a desire for a higher quality of life.
One of these pieces of equipment is the hospital bed. If healthcare and the ability to move become ongoing concerns, it can be necessary for seniors, patients with chronic illnesses, and their friends and family to think about bringing home a hospital bed.
Hospital beds can be a factor in the efficacy of in-home care. They provide support for patients by letting them take on a broad range of positions that aren’t possible with a regular bed. Health care providers can also administer the necessary medical services without stooping and bending.
Every model in the SonderCare line of luxury hospital beds doesn’t come with the institutional look – our designs, from the frame to the mattress to the side rails, are meant to look like an ordinary bed. Many people want to stay in the home they love for as long as possible, and while a hospital bed allows them to accomplish this, a SonderCare bed ensures they also feel at home.
Of course, hospital beds may also reduce the likelihood of injuries that can lead to hospitalization. They are designed to be safe, and the user can adjust the side rails of their bed to prevent falling out of bed. They can also use the rails to grab onto when entering or exiting the bed or adjusting themselves to get comfortable.
If you’re considering adding a care bed to your residence or that of a loved one for home hospital care, talk to the SonderCare team today. Our range of hospital beds and accessories will make your hospital bed a tool for caring for medical conditions in the comfort of one’s home.
*https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8188269/
**https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207234/
After a hospital stay, people may find it more comfortable to recover at home, as they feel in control of their environment. Depending on the individual’s needs and circumstances, home recovery or hospital recovery is better. A few factors to consider are severity, home support, and ability to follow medical instructions and change lifestyle.
In general, people recover better at home since it provides a more familiar and comfortable environment than a hospital or other inpatient facility. The ability to control daily routines and surroundings can also help people recover at home. Of course, this is entirely dependent on the doctor’s recommendation.
If you need medical treatment or support but don’t need to be hospitalized, home health care can be an effective option. The benefits of receiving care at home include the familiarity and comfort of the environment, the ability to have a more normal daily routine, and not having to travel to a healthcare facility.
Among the conditions treated by home health care are post-surgery recovery, chronic illness management, and injury rehabilitation. Support can also be provided for activities of daily living, such as bathing and dressing.
Start Exploring Home Hospital Topics With SonderCare
Are you recently discharged from hospital, experiencing mobility issues, or in need of palliative or senior care? Enjoy a smoother recovery and get the luxury you deserve by choosing our home hospital products. Contact us today to discuss home hospital beds, mattresses, stand assist chairs and other accessories to make your home hospice perfect for a truly comfortable experience.
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