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COVID-19 care in the home

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COVID-19 care in the home

​In an impressive feat, Western Health's COVID-19 'hospital without walls' has cared for 1500 positive patients in their own homes in just under three months.

The Western Health COVID-19 Positive Care Pathways is a virtual care program that provides daily monitoring and support to patients who have contracted the coronavirus.

Divisional Director of Chronic and Complex Care Kirsty Barnes said patients diagnosed with COVID-19 received twice daily phone calls from a registered nurse and visits to their home, when it was clinically required.

"All patients on the pathway receive an information pack and pulse oximeter to monitor their oxygen levels at home, and for a certain cohort of patients they were also given equipment to measure their blood pressure," Ms Barnes said.

"They receive a phone call twice a day to see how they were tracking at home and whether it was safe and practical for them to continue their recovery at home.

"They are also given access to Western Health nursing support 24/7, via a dedicated 1300 number, as well as a referral for their local health service."

The program started with one patient and has monitored more than 1,500 patients since its inception in September 2021.

Even pregnant women who are COVID-19 positive have been safely cared for in the community with the expertise of the Maternal Fetal Medicine Team. Ms Barnes said the innovative program had successfully delivered best and timely care to patients and reduced the risk of adverse events for patients in the community.

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