Improving healthcare with home care services

Healthcare is a major concern in India, which is battling to provide quality care to its 1.2-billion populations. Despite the best efforts of the government for creating world-class health infrastructure in the country, situation has so far remained bleak. Numerous projects which are meant to give a fillip to the healthcare sector continue to remain on papers only, with many getting mired in red tape.

The country is facing innumerable health challenges and is staring at crises particularly related to cancer- and cardiac disorders. Hospitals in metropolitan cities and big towns are teeming with patients who travel from far corners of the country in search for high-end healthcare facilities. While, participation of private sector has improved the condition by several notches, the burden is too gigantic to handle. Beds are either full, leaving no space for other patients in dire need, or hospitals bills are too high for the patients to afford. Patients find themselves in lurch and the government is struggling to find a concrete plan.

However, there is an urgent need in India to provide quality and cost-effective care to patients. Amidst the clamour for creating a patient-friendly healthcare set-up, many forces at public and private sector level need to work in tandem to achieve the goal.

Home care services can play a significant role in perking up the sagging condition of healthcare in the country. The high-end services being provided by home care providers, like HealthCare at Home, addresses one big major issue of creating capacities in hospitals, among several others.

After preliminary treatment at hospitals, patients can get further treatment at their homes which is at par with the care being provided at the hospital. While such facility empties beds in hospitals, for patients too it is affordable as it cuts down various indirect expenditures, including the cost of hospital stay and travelling to and fro to hospitals. At HealthCare At Home, at all times the doctor is kept in loop and the treatment is led by his/her prescription only. Due to this the patients’ doctors have a complete control over the treatment and at the same time they can focus on others patients in hospital.

Home care services can change the way healthcare is delivered in India. Healthcare needs to be patient-centric, which benefits them in more way than one. Providing treatment, along with mental peace, is the need of the hour. Home care services offer these twin benefits simultaneously.

Home care services: The way forward!

The home care market in India is valued at $2 billion and is growing at 20 per cent annually, according to Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC). Rise in income levels and awareness about diseases and its care is swinging the pendulum in favour of patient care to home than in hospital.

Creating capacities: As per a 2012 report by McKinsey and CII, the hospital bed density (per 1000) stands at 1.3 in 2010 against the World Health Organization’s standard of 3.5. Due to non-availability of beds, patients remain devoid of treatment, and in severe cases succumb to the diseases. The availability of home care creates capacities in tertiary hospitals. Post a major-surgery or when a patient is staying at hospital for the sake of care which can be easily replicated at home, then he/she is occupying a bed which can be used by a critically-ill patient. The availability of world-class care at home addresses this concern to a great extent.

Access to care: In India, patients move to metropolitan cities and towns from far and beyond for getting the treatment done due to lack of quality healthcare infrastructure at the respective places. After the initial treatment, they continue to stay in hospitals for further treatment and care which could be handled at home if there are proper channels and arrangements for the same. The scenario is challenging. Home care services successfully plug such loopholes. For example, HealthCare at Home at all times keep treating doctors in the loop and the treatment which is carried by it is led by their prescriptions only. Doctors are kept updated about the patients’ conditions, so the treatment is your doctor- driven. Home care services bring high-end care to the doorsteps and increases the access to quality healthcare facilities even beyond the metros.

Cost effective: Home care services are cost-effective as it reduces the burden of indirect expenditure on travel to hospital and spend on hospital bed, among others. There is continuous monitoring and so the chances of developing complications are remote, which at the same time cuts the probability of re-admission to hospital. Home care services are 50-70 per cent cheaper than hospitals. Also, the services reduce the overall burden of disease on patient, family and hospitals.

Empowering healthcare manpower: The growth of home care services market has expanded the horizon for healthcare professionals. As home care service providers are present in segments ranging from oncology (cancer care), pulmonology (lung care), post-operative care (orthopaedics, to cardiac, bariatric — weight loss surgery– etc), critical care and palliative care, the scope for professionals in the respective fields has grown manifold. Even a 12th pass student can be trained to become an assistant. This helps in bridging employment issues as well. It is providing an altogether new stream of growth to all healthcare providers.

Besides, the chances of contracting infections are higher in hospital than at home, so homecare facilities are much safer. The level of confidentiality is also high when a treatment is being done at home than at hospital.

When India is gaining ground as a medical tourism hub, serious measures are required to provide quality and affordable healthcare facilities to the citizens also.

The concept of homecare facilities will turn out to be a big game changer.