The landscape of health care is shifting, with an increasing emphasis on patient-centric approaches and a growing preference for home-based care. As we step into the latter stages of 2023, the homecare segment of the market is witnessing a remarkable transformation in the way safe patient transfers are handled. Society is quickly entering into a tech boom that will reshape how we approach health care as a whole. Using advanced technologies to secure safer patient transfers in the home could provide strategies that define this dynamic landscape for years to come.
The homecare segment of the market has an opportunity to represent the future of health care delivery. Patients are increasingly choosing the comfort and familiarity of their own homes over nursing home stays whenever possible. This paradigm shift calls for a reevaluation of how patient transfers are managed, as it poses unique challenges and opportunities. Long gone are the days when the best we had to offer was reactive solutions. For years, we’ve used products and techniques to assist patients after they’ve fallen. Now, through technological advances, we can prevent those falls from happening in the first place.
The Role of Technology
In 2023, technology stands as a bridge between health care providers and patients in homecare settings. Telehealth platforms have gained prominence, enabling real-time consultations, monitoring and even diagnostics from the patient’s home. This technology not only enhances the quality of care but also streamlines the transfer process by facilitating consultations with specialized professionals prior to and during transfers. Some companies are already connecting equipment and sensors throughout patient homes that can connect over 5G cellular networks in order to communicate and connect with smart assistants to open doors and assist patients in daily living.
Internet of Things devices play a pivotal role in homecare safety. Wearable sensors and monitoring devices provide real-time data to health care providers, enabling them to track vital signs and anticipate potential complications during transfers. Many providers and companies even have mobile phone apps to track and store this data for all parties to stay better informed. This proactive approach minimizes risks and ensures patient safety. Some organizations are using this data to let clinicians know when patients are being transferred and how long the transfer takes—thus improving care and outcomes in real-time.
Staying Compliant Is Key
Navigating the regulatory landscape in homecare is a complex task. Unlike traditional health care settings, homecare involves patients’ private residences, which introduces a different set of considerations and potential risks. Regulations governing patient transfers in homecare are continually evolving to address these unique challenges. The biggest challenge most families have to grapple with in caring for their loved ones at home when it comes to safe transfers is having only one primary caregiver. To date, the only single caregiver transfer system available in the home that is approved by Medicare for use in the home setting is the Barton chair and transfer system. It’s great that patients at least have a single caregiver transfer option, but with all of the new technology available, we need to see the landscape broaden.
Home health agencies must ensure compliance with federal and state regulations while also considering local ordinances pertaining to home-based care. Compliance isn’t just a matter of adhering
to guidelines; it’s also about adapting to them and embracing best practices to provide the highest level of patient safety during transfers.
In the homecare segment, the significance of skilled health care professionals cannot be overstated. Nurses, therapists and home health aides are on the front lines, providing care and facilitating transfers in diverse home environments. If we can better equip in-home physical therapists in particular with the covered, approved and compliant options at their disposal, it would increase success in the home and prevent unnecessary injuries.
Be Prepared
Communication and collaboration become key in ensuring safe patient transfers in homecare. Health care professionals should engage in open dialogues with patients and their caregivers to build trust and establish clear expectations. This approach not only enhances safety but also empowers patients to participate actively in their care. But ultimately, caregivers and clinicians are only as good as the equipment and resources available to them. They are willing and able to successfully care for patients at home, which saves the health care system billions of dollars, but we must provide them the tools to be successful in that venture.
Continued education and training are essential for these professionals to adapt to the unique challenges of homecare. It’s not enough to simply give them the tools and wish them good luck. The industry must be prepared to arm and train them for success. Simulated scenarios, hands-on training and interdisciplinary collaboration prepare them to navigate various transfer scenarios effectively. Their adaptability and problem-solving skills are critical in ensuring safe patient transfers in the home setting.
Patient-centered care takes on new dimensions in homecare. Patients and their families are not only involved in transfer decisions but are often the primary decision-makers. The focus is on tailoring transfer plans to meet the individual needs, preferences and comfort of the patient. Oftentimes, those family members are going to be the ones transferring their loved one and they need every bit of help they can get. Providing better technology and equipment in the home that ultimately is covered by insurance is going to be the last big step forward in the homecare space.
While advancements have undoubtedly improved patient safety in homecare transfers, challenges persist. Homes vary greatly in terms of layout, accessibility and equipment. Patients themselves present diverse health conditions and mobility limitations. These variables create a dynamic landscape for homecare transfers, where one size does not fit all.
We have access to amazing products and technologies, but insurance coverage for these critical items and access to them is going to be the final frontier in mass adoption. With artificial intelligence, software and technological advances moving at a rapid pace, we will seemingly have a unique opportunity to achieve success in ways never before thought to be possible.
The organizations that figure out how to provide affordable access to these developing options will become some of
the most important and successful players in the homecare space in the coming years
