Home hospitalization is one of the “alternatives to hospitalization”. It is a priority initiative of the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS). This project is part of the vision of a more humane and efficient healthcare network. Home hospitalization improves patients’ quality of life. At the same time, it eliminates certain risks associated with hospital stays, such as the transmission of infections and deconditioning.
Home hospitalization, in brief
Home hospitalization is a service that enables patients to be cared for at home as if they were in hospital. The service is offered for certain medical specialties targeted by the health facility. Eligible patients participate on a voluntary basis. They receive the same care as in traditional hospitalization, and benefit from a number of advantages:
- Greater comfort;
- Less disruption to eating and sleeping habits;
- Maintenance of family life;
- Less risk of hospital-acquired infection;
- Duration of care often shorter.
In practical terms, patients hospitalized at home…
- are followed by their attending physician;
- are in contact with a nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;
- are visited by caregivers for physical care;
- have their medication and medical supplies delivered free of charge;
- maintain priority access to specialist examinations and consultations.
Simple and accessible telehealth tools
Home hospitalization has a significant technological component. Various tools are used to monitor the patient’s condition and symptoms. These technologies can be divided into two categories: communication tools and connected medical devices.
Communication tools play an essential role in ensuring a link between the patient and his or her care team. The telephone is of course one means used, but teleconsultation (or virtual meeting) has several advantages. This video-based means of communication is free, secure and easy to use. Calls can be made from a computer, tablet or smartphone. Eye contact enables a better assessment of the patient’s condition and enhances the feeling of closeness. Read the article All about teleconsultation to find out more.
Connected medical devices enable vital parameters to be measured and monitored. These include heartbeat, blood pressure, blood sugar and oxygen levels. These devices are loaned to the patient during the treatment period. They enable doctors and nurses to gather essential information in real time. The use of connected medical devices is prescribed according to the patient’s needs.
The integration of new technologies represents the future of healthcare. Technological tools not only break down geographical barriers, they also greatly improve access to care. Programs such as home hospitalization use these innovations to propel us into a promising future!
A service that is gradually taking root
Home hospitalization is already offered by a number of hospitals in the Greater Montreal area. Other healthcare establishments in the province will follow suit in the coming months. The government is committed to deploying home hospitalization throughout Quebec by 2026.
For more information, or to consult the complete list of hospitals where the service has been implemented or is in the process of being implemented, visit the Home hospitalization
page on the Quebec.ca website.
Telehealth continues to move forward
The Quebec healthcare network is increasingly deploying initiatives that make use of information and communications technologies. These technologies, known as “telehealth”, are always used to complement conventional services. Care teams use telehealth to promote access to services and ensure equitable quality of care for all.
Several projects and initiatives have already been the subject of articles right here on telesantequebec.ca. These include teledermatology, virtual mental health care, addiction medicine in remote areas, telethrombolysis for stroke treatment and emergency teletriage.