More than 600 COVID patients have been able to recover at home while they receive monitoring and support from a team of healthcare professionals led by Bass Coast Health.
The Hospital In The Home – COVID Home Monitoring Program has provided treatment to patients aged between 18 and 90 who have generally experienced mild symptoms, but in some cases, severe symptoms.
The team, comprising staff from Bass Coast Health, Gippsland Southern Health Service, Kooweerup Regional Health Service and South Gippsland Hospital, has largely provided telehealth care – via daily phone calls to check on patients and also via remote monitoring technology such as finger probes to observe patients’ oxygen levels and heart rates. In some cases, patients have received home visits.
The service offers medical, nursing and allied health clinical services and ensures patients remain comfortable in their homes if their health allows, thereby minimising the need to present to hospital. Patients whose health does not allow them to be treated at home will be conveyed by ambulance to a COVID streaming hospital.
According to Nurse Unit Manager Liam Nancarrow, “A diagnosis of COVID for many people can be daunting and anxiety provoking. I feel one of the best outcomes from our program is to help relieve some of this anxiety by providing accurate professional advice, regular reassuring phone calls and giving people the assurance that they are being monitored and provided with the most appropriate care available.
“Feedback about the program has been very positive particularly from the elderly, those living by themselves and people with poor social supports.”
The program is delivered via the COVID-19 Positive Pathways South Gippsland Coast Partnership. BCH leads the program, and works with staff from Gippsland Southern Health Service, South Gippsland Hospital and Kooweerup Regional Health Service to provide care locally.
John McDougall caught COVID from a family member and spent seven days in isolation, although he still experiences a crippling cough.
“The residual cough is so debilitating to the point that it makes me want to vomit,” he said.
John initially received medication via infusion at Wonthaggi Hospital to protect his lungs, given he had had a collapsed lung in the past.
He was then able to return home to receive care via the Hospital In The Home – COVID Home Monitoring Program.
“They rang me daily to ensure that I was well and to monitor my symptoms. They were excellent. I could not speak highly enough of them. I was just so impressed with the support that I got,” he said.