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Hi it’s Patrik Hutzel from INTENSIVECAREATHOME.COM.AU where we provide TAILOR MADE SOLUTIONS for long-term ventilated Adults& Children with Tracheostomy by improving their QUALITY OF LIFE and where we also provide TAILOR MADE SOLUTIONS to hospitals and Intensive Care Units to save money and resources, whilst providing Quality Care!

In last week’s blog I shared “Long-term ventilated Adults& Children with Tracheostomy, we must not OSTRACISE them!”

You can check out last week’s update by clicking on the link here.

In this week’s blog I want to share with you “HOME instead of Intensive Care, a “BEFORE& AFTER” case study!”

After I have looked after many long-term ventilated Patients with Tracheostomy in Intensive Care and in a community/home environment, I believe that I am in a good position to compare the two.

I could give numerous case studies where we took long-term ventilated adults& children with Tracheostomies home, often after many burdensome months in Intensive Care!

 

A much improved QUALITY OF LIFE at home

The difference it made to those Patients and their families’ QUALITY OF LIFE after taking those Patients home after many weeks or months in Intensive Care is rather remarkable.

Imagine you are stuck in Intensive Care on a ventilator for many weeks or months and you can finally go home with the help of a specialised Intensive Home Care service.

Imagine you as a family member of a long-term ventilated Adult or Child, spending day and night in ICU to be with your loved one.

Imagine, you have been putting your life on hold and you can now finally see light at the end of the tunnel, because someone has a TAILOR MADE SOLUTION for the dilemma that your loved one and your family are facing.

For example, a 72 year old gentleman who was in Intensive Care for three months with a severe Pneumonia ended up with a Tracheostomy.

After multiple failed weaning attempts and after discussions with the gentleman and the family, it was decided to take the man home with the help of a specialised Intensive Home Care service with 24/7 Intensive Care nurses, instead of keeping him in Intensive Care.

 

A WIN-WIN SITUATION for all stakeholders, the Patient, the Family, the Intensive Care Unit and health funding agencies such as the Department of health and private health funds

The 72 year old gentleman was finally able to have QUALITY OF LIFE at home, his family didn’t have to spend day and night in Intensive Care, the Intensive Care Unit finally had a bed back that they could use for another admission and the expenses for the care of this man could be reduced.

And most of all, the gentleman was finally able to enjoy being at home with his family around.

He was able to get out of bed every day and get some fresh air on his balcony. They are little things that matter and they matter the most to the Patients and their Families. They should matter to Intensive Care Units as well.

The alternative?

• A long term stay in Intensive Care with no QUALITY OF LIFE

• A frustrated long-term ventilated Patient and a frustrated family

•  Probably another hospital acquired infection in Intensive Care with more antibiotics

•  Maybe some antidepressants to make up for the lack of QUALITY OF LIFE and for the lack of proven alternatives

•  Maybe an NFR because people lack the ability to think about suitable alternatives

• Blocking an expensive ICU bed that could be used for other more acute admissions

• $ 5,000 per bed day for a Patient in Intensive Care that could be in a more patient and family friendly environment with reduced expenses

What are your thoughts?

Can you think of a case in your ICU where you could prove a “BEFORE& AFTER” case study?

Leave your thoughts and comments on the blog here!

Please also note that INTENSIVE CARE AT HOME has been selected as a preferred provider for Queensland Health Services as part of the recent “Hospital in the Home” tender.

INTENSIVE CARE AT HOME will also be a sponsor in the upcoming  International Tracheostomy Symposium (ITS) 2014 on the 8th October 2014 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition centre! Come and visit us at our exhibition space there!

You can also contact me on 041 094 2230 if you want to know more about how we can help you, your Intensive Care Unit and your Patients and Families.

Thank you for tuning into this week’s blog.

This is Patrik Hutzel from www.intensivecareathome.com.au  and I’ll see you again in another update next week.