Linked to EAHP Statements

Section 1 – Introductory Statements and Governance: Statements 1.1, 1.5
Section 4 – Clinical Pharmacy Services: Statements 4.1, 4.5, 4.6, 4.8
Section 5 – Patient Safety and Quality Assurance: Statement 5.1, 5.6

ACPE UAN: 0475-0000-18-020-L04-P. A knowledge based activity.

Abstract

Older adults presenting to the emergency department (ED) are admitted at over three times the rate of the general population. Crowded EDs, shortages of hospital beds, risk of hospital acquired infections - coupled with the growing population of seniors, provides an emerging need to develop alternative care pathways other than the current options of admission, observation or discharge.

Hospital at home schemes provide care in a patient's home such as observation, administration of drugs, support, nursing care and rehabilitation that is usually available only in hospitals. The rationale is that such services increase patient satisfaction (quality of life) and reduce the costs, without adverse effects on clinical outcomes. Hospital care at home is primarily provided by specialist doctors and nurses. However, there is a clear scope for pharmaceutical care provided by a pharmacist, integrated in the health care team, to positively impact the quality and safety of medication use for these patients.

Learning objectives

• Describe the concept of hospital care at home, its advantages and potential problems
• List type of patients and conditions that are especially suited for this care-path.
• Describe the rational for the inclusion of pharmacists in the team and which tasks pharmacists are especially suited to perform

Educational need addressed

Home based specialised care has implications for hospital pharmacists that will need to be able to supply home based patients with advanced therapies such as pumps and other ambulatory delivery systems, ensuring usability and safety. In this session home based specialised care will be presented along with examples of pharmaceutical care services and appropriate skills that pharmacists need to develop.

Keywords: hospital at home, telemedicine, infusions