Long-term hospital treatment can be financially, emotionally, and physically draining. This is especially true for caregivers, who need to manage multiple other responsibilities, apart from caring for the patient. The good news is that with domiciliary hospitalisation cover, policyholders can ensure that the sick receive optimal care and high-quality treatment without the need for traditional hospitalisation.
What is Domiciliary Hospitalisation?
Domiciliary hospitalisation is a system that allows patients to receive medical care at their home. They may need to get treated at home due to the unavailability of a hospital bed or the lack of necessary care infrastructure in a hospital close to their place of residence. Certain patients may prefer home treatments because of their inability to move to a hospital, being bedridden due to a chronic condition, or preference to remain close to their family members, for instance, in the case of a terminal illness.
Some of the other benefits of domiciliary hospitalisation include:
Cost-effectiveness
Suitability for patients with mobility issues
Dedicated attention from caregivers
How Does Domiciliary Hospitalisation Work?
Domiciliary hospitalisation requires the following steps to be taken:
Diagnosis
The patient is diagnosed for continued medical treatment and the medical practitioner determines whether they are eligible for at-home hospitalisation. The doctor may consider the severity of the condition and individual circumstances to prescribe/authorise domiciliary treatment.
Treatment Plan
Once the patient and the doctor conclude in favour of at-home care, a treatment plan is developed to outline necessary medical interventions and criteria that would mandate moving the patient to a hospital.
Insurance Cover
A significant step before starting such treatment is carefully understanding the domiciliary hospitalisation benefits covered in the patient’s health insurance plan. Healthcare plans often exclude certain conditions and treatments that require extreme care and ongoing expert medical oversight. Additionally, domiciliary hospitalisation may entail a minimum number of days of treatment. So, make sure to check all the terms and conditions to understand the exact coverage and benefits before choosing the cover.
Medical Equipment
If required, the patient is provided with the necessary equipment to facilitate the treatment process. These may include oxygen cylinders, nebulisers, a special bed, etc.
Healthcare Provider
Certain conditions require continued visits by healthcare professionals for monitoring, giving injections, delivering medicines, etc. A domiciliary care professional or nurse can be hired permanently or contracted on a per-visit basis to take care of the patient at home.
Treatment
The nurse or the primary caregiver ensures that the treatment is followed accurately. They monitor and regularly update the treating doctor on the progress of the patient.
After the patient is cured, there can be a follow-up visit to the doctor, if required.
Before Opting for Domiciliary Hospitalisation
Having a patient 24x7 at home can be a difficult situation. Therefore, caregivers and patients must carefully weigh the pros and cons of domiciliary hospitalisation. Although domiciliary hospitalisation coverage might differ from one insurance provider to another, it usually takes care of treatments that last longer than 72 hours. Also, it is important to make sure that the policy covers the treatment plan suggested by the doctor for an informed decision.
