The traditional model of hospital-based healthcare delivery in India has always been scarce. And the spurt in the cases of COVID-19 has significantly increased the burden on the limited existing healthcare infrastructure in the country. However, the pandemic has also changed the dynamics of the healthcare delivery chain in India as 80 per cent of COVID-19 patients are asymptomatic or showing mild symptoms, reveals a report of Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

The government recommends home isolation:

These patients are not required to go for hospital-based treatments and in this regard, the guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research say that persons clinically categorised as having very mild or pre-symptomatic (COVID-19) will have the option of home isolation provided they have the requisite facility at their residence. Understandably, the government recommends home isolation with the intent to ease the burden on the hospitals.

Thanks to the government guidelines, we have been providing home isolation services to Fortis Hospital across the country, and also collaborated with the corporate like Tata, Dabur, ABFL and insurance companies for our HIP to manage the asymptomatic as well as the patients with mild symptoms. We have developed customised Home Isolation Programme (HIP) under two caps — ‘COVID Essentials’ and ‘COVID Advanced.’ The former is meant ‘for low-risk individuals’ and the latter ‘for high-risk individuals. Home isolation is feasible and affordable for everyone. And, this will also decrease the burden on hospitals. As the number of mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients has been increasing gradually, it seems that 90% of the patients will be treated through home isolation care considering its affordability and feasibility.

We have been receiving overwhelming responses from patients amidst the COVID-19 panic as they are approaching us considering the feasibility of Home Isolation Programme (HIP). Two weeks ago, one of the perplexed patients with mild symptoms of COVID-19 reached out to our helpline, who was painstakingly responded by our HIP team. He was immediately connected to the concerned physician followed by a psychologist to ease his mental stress and a dietician. Subsequently, testing was done via hassle-free sample collection at home. Rest, our HIP team has managed remotely with the fast recovery of the patient.

Queries for home isolation has increased significantly :

In the last three months, the number of queries for home isolation has increased significantly as we are receiving 250-300 queries per day. So far, we have treated over four thousand patients through our HIP. To start the HIP, first, we do on boarding call with the patients and their family members by trained COVID-19 experts on how to implement HIP protocols. We provide complete training and education ‘On how to live in home isolation’ with IEC material. Caregivers are also available round the clock.

Amid the chronic shortage of hospital beds almost everywhere, home isolation services turn out to be the most preferred and feasible choice. Recently, the UP government has decided to allow home isolation for asymptomatic COVID-19 patients under certain conditions. Regarding the allowance of home isolation for asymptomatic COVID-19 patients, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Awanish Kumar Awasthi  ha said, “So far, home isolation was not allowed in the state. But now we have decided to allow it with certain conditions and norms. He also added that there is an adequate number of beds in COVID-designated hospitals in the state, and the decision to allow home isolation was made based on ‘requests from people’.”

Mr Vivek Srivastava, Co-Founder & CEO(R)
Dr Gaurav Thukral, COO(L)
Health Care at HOME (HCAH).

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New Delhi, August 1, 2020 : An insightful discussion recently brought out how homecare and telemedicine are two new things that the Covid-19 pandemic has given to healthcare. They are helping deal with patients successfully, comfortably and are in the best interests of all the sections — doctors, administration and patients. The discussion also emphasized on the role of community care, need for home healthcare, and how prevention and not fear are the need of the hour during Covid-19. The webinar by Medtalks,  on Taking the fear out of Covid: community’s role in tackling the crisis and was organized as part of Medtalks with Dr K K Aggarwal- Covid edition. It emphasized on how Covid is something that we can face, handle and come out successfully from and that recovery is the rule and mortality an exception.

Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) & Confederation of Medical Associations of Asia & Oceania (CMAAO), Editor-in-Chief Medtalks & IJCP Group said, “Given the current crisis and the burden on traditional healthcare settings, home care is emerging as the answer. New learnings have shown how the cohort treatment is very effective. This could include getting set of Covid-positive patients together to support each other and enable recovery. Those with Covid or Covid-like symptoms should not get upset or panic. Recovery is the rule and fatality is an exception. It is important to isolate at home and follow guidelines. After the 9th/10th day, the virus becomes non-replicable and non-virulent. After the 10th day, the person can be shifted to quarantine and after 14th day, to monitoring.  All that is needed is an oximeter and oxygen concentrator at home. The third to sixth days are the most important. If patients develop exertional hypoxia, medicines, steroid, anti-viral medicines can be administered for treatment and ventilation can be avoided. If the condition deteriorates, hospitalisation may be needed but only in very few cases. After the sixth day, only home care is advised and is safe.

Also Read: COVID-19 STAYS IN BODY FOR 9 DAYS ONLY, NO NEED TO GET SCARED.

Adding further, Meena Ganesh, MD & Founder Portea Medical said, “Community care is the need of the hour and can help in reducing the burden on hospital beds significantly. This is evident from Portea’s experience of handling 45,000 COVID positive patients with home isolation solutions and less than 3% of them needing hospitalisation. The remaining people recover completely at home. Our program involves daily, constant monitoring by healthcare workers, teleconsultation with a doctor, tracking the vitals, speaking with the patient and family member, and access to a 24 X 7 helpline.

Adding further she said-“Community care has two key roles to play: informing and educating people on handling the crisis and ensuring preparedness to avoid panic and act decisively and calmly.  The shift from hospital-centric care to home-based care will drive better outcomes, convenient access for the patients, lower cost of healthcare, and better utilization of doctors and hospital resources. The success in handling home isolation of COVID patients will now pave the way for handling infectious diseases and chronic diseases through technology, remote monitoring, and community support. Healthcare will transform to the betterment of all sections – the patients, the doctors, hospitals & service providers with community care based models taking center stage”

Dr Rajeev Sood – Dean Atal Behari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences at Ram Manohar Lohia hospital, renowned Urologist, recipient of Dr, B.C. Roy National award and Covid Survivor, gave insights into how he batted COVID himself, his experience as an individual and an expert from the healthcare industry. According to him, home healthcare is the need of the hour. Given his experience with Covid-19, he would recommend hospitalization only if essential and for people with co-morbidities or advanced age. Home care is familiar and familial and all aspects of a normal treatment can be best administered under such circumstances as well. Home care also offers better mental health support which is an essential aspect of recovery.

The underlying message conveyed during the panel discussion centered around how family and community are important aspects of recovery from Covid-19. Avoiding panic and following precautions emerged as the key takeaway messages as also the importance of coming back to the family and home environment.

Also Read: HYGIENIC AND SAFE FOOD IS THE NEED OF THE HOUR

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