The pilot programme Hospital-at-Home (HaH) launched recently by the country's National Health Insurance Scheme has found that the patients in the HaH programme recovered faster and incurred less expenditure on treatment.
The results showed that HaH patients spent an average of 7.5 days compared to 10.9 days in hospital and their medical costs were much lower. Patient satisfaction was also very high, and HaH patients were no more likely than hospitalised patients to return to the emergency room or require rehospitalisation.
The research compared two groups of patients with infections such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections, or soft tissue infections. One group received care through the HaH model, while the other was treated in the hospital. The two groups were similar in age, sex, and diagnosis.
The research team said this study is the first of its kind in Taiwan and shows that HaH is a safe and effective alternative to traditional hospitalisation. It could help reduce hospital overcrowding and support older patients and their caregivers by allowing recovery at home.
The researchers suggested that HaH could also be applied to other conditions, such as heart failure or chemotherapy. With Taiwan’s ageing population and strained hospital system, HaH has the potential to improve the way care is delivered.
Several health insurers in Asia had begun offering domiciliary treatment in times of the pandemic, however, the trend did not get an enthusiastic response. As such insurance coverage for home healthcare services is still in its nascent stage, with low awareness and even slower adoption.