One of the best ways to improve the Remote Care and safety of patients (especially the elderly), is to move it at home. Many organizations, companies, and hospitals are launching or improving projects to move primary and palliative care to the home. For weak or delicate patients, remote or home health care can prevent the need for expensive hospital care. It is not only beneficial for patients but also for caregivers, and both of them are receiving it well. Statistics show that the global market for remote patient monitoring will reach US $4.07 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 8.74%. It is a big jump from the past years.
There are significant opportunities to improve remote and home-based care projects. However, there are some challenges linked to it but nothing a little effort and love can’t overcome. Today, in this blog, we will look at the top challenges that come in the way of moving care to home, and discuss solutions to overcome them.
- Patients’ Liking
As home health and remote care popularity grows, it is important to consider patient’s likes and dislikes regarding home-based care. Most people or someone they know prefer to receive treatment for acute illnesses at hospitals or care facilities. The reason for them not opting for home-based care options varies from person to person. Some say that it constantly reminds them about their illness even when they want to spend time with their family. On the other hand, some say it disturbs their privacy, while some like to be social and on the walk sometimes even if they are going to the hospital.
It is the duty of doctors and caregivers to respect the preferences, likes, and dislikes of the patients. Physicians must thoroughly discuss patient’s needs and why and how home-based care is the right choice for them. Also, the facilities should keep a check and balance on patient’s preferences and accommodate them.
- Clinicians Troubles
The issues are not just with the patients, there are many concerns of clinicians that persuade them into not taking part in home-based care. As compared to other work-from-home jobs, home-based care demands a long time. Due to this, there are fewer clinicians who see patients at home. Also, they are tied under the disadvantage of a traditional fee-for-service model that pays them based on the patients addressed and procedures performed by them.
For home-based health care, there should be a set payment model that rewards clinicians for their services. They spend hours managing care and coordinating with patients, which is a great thing. Also, modern-day institutions and staff should train the next generation of doctors and physicians for home-based care.
- Supporting Equipment
Another major challenge is the lack of supportive and proper equipment, like life-saving and assistive durable medical equipment or DME. It makes it hard to address patient’s acute and general healthcare needs at home.
In order to make patients receive home-based care and clinicians to provide it, DME companies should receive proper incentives to produce high-quality equipment. Also, the DME supply chain should be agile and reliable. In short, healthcare systems and patients should work together to promote home-based care. It will help both patients and clinicians feel safe and happy. To fully enable this, a complete environment of care should be available.
- Patients’ Safety
If you didn’t know, home health care also has some specific risks attached to it. For example, environmental issues, infection control, sanitation, and communication troubles. Sometimes the caregivers don’t have enough training, education, or communication issues which also raises a big question of whether at-home care will work or not.
To address these issues, it is important to assess and remove the risks and concerns related to the patient’s and the family’s safety in home-based care. Also, clinicians must consider the safety standards in the medical equipment and supplies they use at home. Finally, equipment should include data measuring and sharing options across healthcare organizations.
- Regulatory Conditions
The governance and control of home-based care involves regulations that are not rightfully in place or under monitoring. Normally, there are no requirements for the quality of home or remote healthcare, stipulations regarding the education and training of professional caregivers, and the equipment in need.
So, in order to reduce or prevent the safety concerns and risks of unregulated care, healthcare administrations must enforce solid and consistent regulations. Not everything, but there must be methods and needs for monitoring and reporting home care quality, certifications for caregivers, and equipment checking and calibration.
Final Thoughts
The reinstatement and promotion of at-home care whether it is acute, palliative, or advanced foot care and treatment, is necessary. For a home-based care system to grow and flourish, we health care system must pay attention to compensation models for caregivers so they receive