Navigating COVID-19 Surges: A Case Study of a Hospital-at-Home Implementation
Author Information
Author(s): Ng Jin Wee, Nurjono Milawaty, Kee Michelle Mong Nee, Oh Hong Choon, See Qin Yong
Primary Institution: Changi General Hospital, Singhealth, Singapore
Hypothesis
Can the Hospital-at-Home model effectively alleviate hospital bed shortages during COVID-19 surges?
Conclusion
The Hospital-at-Home model successfully reduced hospital bed utilization while maintaining care quality during COVID-19 surges.
Supporting Evidence
- HaH was activated for 38 days during the Omicron wave and 22 days during the XBB wave.
- 16 patients were admitted during the Omicron wave, saving 48 bed days.
- 17 patients were admitted during the XBB wave, saving 85 bed days.
- There were no adverse events reported during the program.
- The 30-day readmission rate for discharged patients was zero.
- No negative feedback was received during the post-discharge survey.
Takeaway
This study shows that patients can receive hospital-level care at home, which helps free up hospital beds for those who need them more urgently.
Methodology
The study involved implementing a Hospital-at-Home model for COVID-19 patients, assessing clinical outcomes, and collecting feedback from patients.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the small team managing the program and communication challenges with acute inpatient wards.
Limitations
The study had a low sample size, which limited the reliability of some data.
Participant Demographics
33 patients with a median age of 72, including 19 males and 14 females.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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