COWICHAN VALLEY – The Hospital at Home (HaH) program at Cowichan District Hospital has expanded to the Cowichan Valley.
The HaH model is recognized internationally and designed to improve patient comfort, privacy and independence. A team of doctors, registered nurses, pharmacists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists and others are provided to tailor care specific to a patients individual needs.
The program was launched on April 16th, 2024 and funded to offer 10 beds. The voluntary program is based on a patients medical needs and geographical location.
“Hospital at Home provides patient-centred care away from our acute-care sites to allow some patients to be where they can recover best – in their home setting. Island Health’s Hospital at Home has received the Canadian College of Health Leader’s 2022 Excellence in Patient Experience Award, and I am pleased that this award-winning program is now available to Cowichan patients and families,” said Leah Hollins, Island Health board chair.
Multidisciplinary teams of health-care professionals make daily visits to patients at their own homes. Patients receive daily visits from the doctor depending on the patient’s condition. It could be in person or virtual. HaH nurses, who are also available 24/7 to patients for consultation and check-ins, do daily in-person visits.
Other members of the HaH team are also available to provide virtual visits. Care teams provide services, including medication management, blood draws, IV therapy and supplemental oxygen. Transfers to hospital can be arranged for services provided only in hospital. If patients no longer want to participate in the program or their condition changes, Island Health will co-ordinate their transfer back to the hospital.
“Along with other CHCP programs like our COPD clinic, short-term enablement planning suites, seniors outpatient clinic and enhanced palliative-care services, Hospital at Home is an innovative program aimed at supporting patients to manage their health from home or in the community for longer, while reducing the need for hospital admissions,” said Donna Jouan-Tapp, project director, Cowichan Health and Care Plan (CHCP).
The care is suitable for patients with chronic conditions, needing hospital-level treatment for infections or other conditions where it would be safe to administer needed treatment.
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