Clinical Care at Home From The Care Experts

 Navigating specialized clinical care can be complex, especially when one has a chronic condition or disability or is homebound. This type of care is often situated in specialized facilities and requires travel, which can become arduous, time-consuming, and expensive. As an example, in 2021, a person in the US without insurance will pay an average of $84 to visit a primary care doctor, $157 to see a specialist, and $737 for an emergency room visit. Expanded access to specialized care presented in people’s homes can potentially transform the way we deliver clinical care into the homes of those whose daily routines make travel inadvisable. Understanding the Need for Specialized Clinical Care What is Specialized Clinical Care?  Specialized clinical care means having access to physicians who are trained to provide healthcare services for patients with specific health problems through their specialty training in various areas of medicine, like cardiology, neurology, oncology, rheumatology, and so on. This type of care is essential for people dealing with complex or chronic conditions. Challenges in Accessing Specialized Clinical Care The Rise of Home-Based Specialized Clinical Care Telehealth and Virtual Consultations Telehealth leverages digital technology to provide healthcare services remotely. This includes: Home-Based Specialty Services Beyond telehealth, home-based specialty services include: Benefits of Accessing Specialized Clinical Care at Home 1. Enhanced Convenience 2. Improved Patient Comfort 3. Cost Savings 4. Continuous Monitoring and Care Implementing Home-Based Specialized Care 1. Choosing the Right Services 2. Setting Up Technology 3. Coordinating Care 4. Training and Support Addressing Challenges and Limitations 1. Technology Access and Literacy 2. Privacy and Security 3. Regulatory and Reimbursement Issues  Being able to access specialist clinical care from home has the potential for convenience, comfort, and cost savings Benefiting from specialist clinical care at home is part of a regular day with a teleCNA visit and is also part of an annual check-up, made possible by removing the barriers of access to healthcare from individuals with needs beyond the scope of primary care.

As the healthcare system has evolved, home-based care has increasingly become a model that has produced remarkable patient outcomes across a broad range of cases, from the most complex chronic conditions to postoperative recovery to palliative care. In fact, clinical care in home settings frequently translates into increased patient comfort, personalized care plans, and fewer hospital readmissions. To illustrate this, in this article, we examine several success stories that highlight the power of clinical care that’s flourishing in the home. Case Study 1: Managing Chronic Heart Failure with Home-Based Care Patient Profile:  Five years ago, John was diagnosed with chronic heart failure. Since then, medication and lifestyle have kept him out of the hospital, except for three admissions to the cardiac ward in the past year, when he developed complications and his symptoms worsened.  Intervention: John’s care team decided that he would be better able to manage his condition if they moved him to a home-based care model, including: Outcomes: Case Study 2: Post-Surgical Recovery and Rehabilitation at Home Patient Profile: Procedure: I have recently undergone a hip replacement as I was suffering from very bad arthritis. It has been difficult for me to recover from the surgery as I can’t go for walks in the hospital, and I am in a great deal of pain. Intervention: Mary’s care team decided that rehabilitation would be best performed at home:  Outcomes: Case Study 3: Palliative Care for Terminal Illness Patient Profile: At the time, 79-year-old Robert was diagnosed with terminal cancer that no longer responded to aggressive treatment. He chose to receive palliative care at home, focusing on therapeutic goals aimed at comfort and quality of life, while avoiding interventions with uncertain outcomes or potential harm. Intervention: Robert’s palliative care plan included: Outcomes: Case Study 4: Managing Diabetes with Home-Based Care Patient Profile: After switching to a ketogenic diet, she reported improved blood sugar control and reduced blood fat levels both of which are linked to a lower risk of heart disease and stroke. ‘Susan had had type 2 diabetes for years and hadn’t been able to achieve better blood sugar levels because of poor glycemic control, which is how I would describe that term,’ says Phinney. Pólicková’s diabetes stabilized faster at lower doses, suggesting that the ketogenic diet was responsive in her body. ‘She had no hypoglycemia, she had less insulin,’ says Feinman.  Intervention: Susan’s care team implemented a home-based diabetes management program that included: Outcomes:  These case studies show how home-based clinical care can contribute to the success of home care by delivering individualized, patient-centered care in the home to the benefit of improved health outcomes, a quality of life consistent with medical goals, and a better patient and family experience. Whether in the context of chronic condition management, surgery recovery post-acute care, or palliation, home-based care provides a flexible and efficient way to meet the many differing needs of patients. Around the world, there are developing models of care tied to primary care that demonstrate a new way of healthcare delivery – high-touch, high-tech, and high-value care to improve the patient and family (or staff or informal caregiver) experience while still achieving or even exceeding health outcomes.