Worried parents are confronted with complex logistics and disruptions to the family routine when their sick child is admitted to the hospital. Would it be better for their child to be cared for at home? A pilot study seeks to find out
In the Ruth Rappaport Children’s Hospital at Rambam. Photography: Rambam HCC
Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam) in Haifa, Israel, the tertiary medical center for Northern Israel, serves the 2.5 million residents in the region and complex case referrals nationwide. One of Israel’s health maintenance organizations (HMO), Maccabi Healthcare Services and Rambam are performing a pilot study at The Ruth Rappaport Children’s Hospital, the region’s only dedicated pediatric hospital.
The joint study is assessing the feasibility of allowing pediatric patients with specific conditions to receive appropriate ongoing medical care at home. The study includes children covered by the Maccabi HMO who are initially admitted to the Cheryl Spencer Pediatric Emergency Department and then hospitalized in one of Rambam’s pediatric departments. These young patients are discharged on the same day, if their condition permits, and continue receiving treatment at home. Up to five days of at-home care is provided, which is suitable for most pediatric patients requiring antibiotics or fluid replacement.
Maccabi healthcare workers accompany and support the family throughout the home hospitalization period, and Rambam’s specialist pediatric physicians provide ongoing remote medical support via telephone or video calls.
For the children and their families, the expected benefits of home hospitalization and recuperation include faster recovery in a familiar, safe, and private environment. The risk of viral or bacterial infections transmitted from other patients will be minimized. The logistics involved for families travelling from afar will also be kept to a minimum. Parents can work from home and ensure proper supervision of their child. As a result, the entire family should experience a quicker return to their everyday routines.
Benefits are also expected to extend to the hospital, with a noticeable reduction in the workload on medical and department staff. Fewer hospitalizations mean more available beds for more critical conditions, especially during peak demand periods.
A similar program for adults has already been implemented at Rambam, also in collaboration with the Maccabi HMO. In light of the success of the program for adults, it is hoped that Rambam’s pediatric patients will reap the same benefits with the implementation of this innovative joint study.
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