Healthcare has been experiencing tremendous growth. Hospitals have increased demand and patients prefer more convenient recovery options. Therefore, as a result of the above factors, post-acute care has moved away from the traditional setting of hospitals and other healthcare settings and into the home.
Therefore, it is not just about getting out of the hospital quicker; but rather providing the patient with the necessary tools, technology, and resources needed to recover safely and effectively within the confines of his/her home. There are Three primary areas of innovation which are facilitating this move towards at-home recovery; namely mobility solutions, remote patient monitoring, and Medical Equipment Rentals. Together, these innovations are helping to create a more patient-centric healthcare experience while enhancing the quality of care provided to patients and reducing healthcare costs.
Definition of post acute care
Post acute care is defined as those services and supports received by patients once discharged from a hospital. Often times, this period of recovery is critical to a patients overall success in their recovery process following such events as:
- major surgery
- joint replacement procedures
- stroke recovery
- Cardiac events
- respiratory illnesses
- serious injuries
- chronic disease management
Traditionally, many of these patients would either go to rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities or long term care facilities. However, due to the advancement of healthcare technology and its applications, there are now more alternatives available for patients to recover at home.
Factors contributing to the shift towards at-home recovery
There are several contributing factors to the shift of at-home recovery:
patient preference
The majority of patients recover better in the familiarity of their own home. They tend to sleep better, exhibit less stress and report higher emotional well-being.
cost efficiencies
At-home recovery is more cost efficient because the length of stay in a facility is minimized while still providing quality treatment.
improved technology
Using remote monitoring equipment and connected healthcare systems provides providers with the ability to monitor the health status of their patients without having to visit them constantly.
aging demographics
Due to the increasing population of older adults world-wide, healthcare systems require scalable solutions that address long-term recovery needs and chronic condition management at home.
The role of mobility solutions in modern recovery
Mobility plays a pivotal role in determining the outcome of a patient’s recovery. Patients who continue to move safely typically suffer fewer complications and are able to rehabilitate more quickly.
Important mobility solutions
Hospitals beds:
Adjustable hospital beds provide patients with added comfort and improved positioning to facilitate easier transfer. They also enhance repositioning for both the patient and caregiver.
Wheel chairs:
wheel chair rentals provide temporary mobility support for surgical patients, patients injured or ill and/or suffering from neurological disorders.
Rollators and Walkers:
both rollators and Walkers provide patients with increased balance confidence while minimizing fall risk.
Lift recliners:
lift chairs enable independent sitting and rising positions for patients while promoting dignity and comfort throughout their recovery.
Patient lifts:
mechanical lifts assist patients with limited mobility in transferring safely. They also decrease caregiver fatigue and potential injuries associated with manual lifting.
Advantages of using mobility support
- Improved rehabilitation timeframes
- Increased independence
- Decreased fall risk
- Increased confidence
- Enhanced physical conditioning
- Improved quality of life
With the ongoing evolution of healthcare, mobility solutions are becoming a foundational component of effective post-acute care plans.
Remote patient monitoring — brining healthcare into the home
Undoubtedly one of the most exciting developments in post-acute care is remote patient monitoring (RPM). RPM utilizes connected medical devices to collect health-related data from patients’ homes and transmit it directly to their healthcare provider(s).
Devices that monitor patient health status
- Blood pressure monitors
- Pulse oximetry devices
- Glucose monitoring systems
- Digital thermometers
- Weight monitoring systems
- Cardiac monitoring equipment
How remote monitoring works
Approved devices are used by patients at home. The collected health related data is then transmitted electronically to their healthcare team. Providers can therefore identify trends indicating problems developing before these problems become serious enough to warrant emergency department visits or hospital readmission(s).
Advantages of remote monitoring
Early problem identification
Providers can quickly detect changes in a patient’s health status.
Active participation by patients
Patients participate actively in their own recovery processes.
Reduces hospital readmissions
Monitoring early identifies problems before they develop into serious medical issues requiring hospitalization.
Peace-of-mind for Families
Family members gain peace-of-mind knowing that their family member’s health metrics are being continuously monitored.
Medical Equipment Rentals — a practical alternative for many Families
Many Families cannot afford to purchase medical equipment since their family member’s recovery needs may be temporary. Affordable medical equipment rental options provide Families with an option for accessing medical equipment.
Types of popularly rented medical equipment
- Hospital beds
- Oxygen concentrator rentals
- Lift recliner rentals
- Wheel chair rentals
- Mobility scooter rentals
- Therapeutic mattress rentals
- Patient lift rentals
- BiPAP/cpr equipment rentals
Why Medical Equipment Rentals continue to grow in Popularity
Lower initial outlays
Families do not spend thousands of dollars on equipment that is only utilized for a couple of weeks or months.
Accessible high-quality equipment
Patients can utilize advanced medical equipment without committing themselves financially.
Maintenance of rented equipment is provided by rental companies
Service calls/repairs/technical assistance is usually included in your rental agreement.
Flexibility during the patient’s recovery process
As a patient’s needs evolve during their recovery process, rented equipment can be replaced or upgraded.
Growing trend of “hospital-at-home” model
One of the largest growing trends in healthcare is the hospital-at-home (hah) model. With hah models, certain patients are able to receive hospital-quality care within the confines of their home utilizing combinations of:
- Medical Equipment Rentals
- Remote monitoring systems
- Telemedicine consultations
- Clinical visits made within their home
- Support from family members or other care givers
The hah model offers many advantages of receiving care in a hospital while enabling patients to recover in the comforts of their own home.
Primary benefits of hah models
- Higher satisfactions among patients
- Lessened exposure to infectious diseases
- Lower healthcare costs
- Better emotional well-being
- More positive recovery experiences
What will the future hold?
The future generation of post-acute care will consist of:
Smart medical equipment
Smart medical beds, smart wheel chairs etc. Will automatically gather health data.
Integration of artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence (ai) enabled systems will be able to identify recovery risks before symptoms present themselves seriously enough for intervention.
Integrated Digital platforms — connected care ecosystems
All components involved in a patient’s recovery process (medical device manufacturers, healthcare providers, caregivers, patients) will work together through integrated Digital platforms.
Personalized recovery programs
Each patient’s recovery program will be customized based upon their specific medical condition, living situation and personal preferences.
Expanded availability of short-term & long-term medical equipment rental options
Short-term and long-term rental options will increase in number and variety for use during recovery periods.