Now how to do it, safely effectively and with dignity
Nick Triggle, Health Correspondent at the BBC has today published an article BBC Health News on how care homes could provide a solution to the problem of “bed blocking”. This article was in response to a new green paper from the independent think tank ResPublica, suggesting that “Fast track discharge funding” could be used to move patients from an acute hospital setting into a community based setting quickly and efficiently.
Patients2People(P2P) are a Healthcare Innovations Provider, and are a leader in designing and implementing changes in the way that care of older people is provided in community settings. The P2P “Promoting Independence Unit” is an original concept that came to fruition in late 2013, and has had remarkable results that indicate the Respublica green paper is correct.
The P2P concept involves providing rapid transfer of care from an acute hospital setting to a community setting. The patients are then intensively managed by a multidisciplinary team, who are committed to ensuring that patients make rapid improvements so that they can ultimately return to their homes without increasing care packages and costs.
The average length of stay on the Promoting Independence Unit (PIU) is 9.1 days, during this time the team undertake treatments usually done in hospital e.g. intravenous antibiotics etc, ensure that muscle strength that has been lost in hospital is improved (reducing the chance of falls), nutrition and hydration are improved and enhanced (improving recovery and reducing susceptibility to infection). The PIU team ensure that therapy is continued, adherence to medication is encouraged and monitored and that any social needs required for the home setting are assessed and arranged; this includes end of life care and support. The team continues to provide support via outreach and telecare and a crisis line until they decide they and family do not need further support.
From the very moment that the patient arrives on our units the team are working towards their transfer from the unit to their home setting, reducing the delays from external agencies and organisations. Once the patient returns to their home they receive a package of care from the team in their own home and are monitored using telehealth to ensure that they continue to thrive and improve.
At every step of the way the patient and their families are at the centre of our plans, and this is best judged by the feedback that we have received.
Or by listening to Joyce on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAYWsVDkq6g
