The Home Health Care Service (HHCS) of Hamad Medical Corporation in Doha, Qatar has successfully implemented a series of service improvements that have led to a decrease in unnecessary visits to emergency departments by registered patients. The percentage of home health care patients visiting an emergency department each month has fallen from an average of eight percent to five percent as a result of these changes. Dr. Feras Haddad, Sr. Consultant Head of Section and Lead Physician at HHCS, stated that the aim of the service is to provide quality healthcare and assistance to patients in the comfort of their own homes, reducing the need for hospital visits.
Since the beginning of 2021, HHCS has introduced several initiatives to ensure that patients receive the best possible care at home and to reduce unnecessary emergency department visits. These include implementing a patient-assigned physician model of care to improve continuity of care, decentralizing HHCS services across multiple districts to bring care teams closer to patients’ homes, and collaborating with the Elderly Urgent Care Unit for rapid access to care for non-emergency needs. Additionally, a feeding tube replacement pathway has been established to avoid patients having to visit emergency departments for this service, and a multi-disciplinary team approach has been enhanced to meet patients’ various needs through an integrated care plan.
Dr. Essa Al Sulaiti, Medical Director of HHCS, highlighted the increasing number of visits made by HHCS teams to patients’ homes each year, with approximately 80,000 visits conducted in 2023 alone. These visits include a range of services such as medical check-ups, medication management, wound care, injections, respiratory therapy, and specialist physiotherapy. Dr. Hanadi Al Hamad, HMC’s Deputy Chief for Long-Term Care, Rehabilitation, and Geriatrics Care, pointed out the growing proportion of older people in Qatar’s population and the expected increase in demand for Home Health Care services in the coming years.
The efforts to improve services and reduce emergency department visits by registered home care patients have been successful in making a positive impact on patient care. Dr. Al Hamad expressed gratitude to all those involved in the service improvements, emphasizing the importance of these initiatives in ensuring the well-being of patients and optimizing the healthcare system. By continuing to implement innovative strategies and providing quality care in patients’ homes, HHCS aims to further enhance the delivery of healthcare services and improve the overall care experience for its registered patients.
