Introduction: Hospital at Home (@Home) services bring the ward to the patient, providing acute care in the home. The @Home team adapted to support the care of patients with COVID-19 in the community who would otherwise have required hospitalisation.
Methods: An evidence-based guideline and treatment bundle (dexamethasone, oxygen, intravenous fluids and thromboprophylaxis) for managing severe COVID-19 was developed. Data were retrospectively extracted from notes of patients with COVID-19 admitted between 16 December 2020 to 14 February 2021, and service users contacted for feedback.
Results: One-hundred and twenty-five adults with COVID-19 were treated by @Home; 42 severe (34%) and 83 non-severe (66%) infections; average length of stay was 7 days (interquartile range 4-8). Eight-hundred and seventy-five hospital-occupied bed days were saved. Service users emphasised the importance of being with loved ones and the value of respecting peoples' wishes to be at home.
Conclusion: @Home gave people with COVID-19 a choice of active treatment at home, thereby extending available healthcare capacity beyond the acute hospital setting.
Keywords: COVID-19; admission avoidance and urgent care response; hospital at home; older people; patient choice.
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