ICU setup at Home is an innovative approach to medical care that seeks to replicate the services provided by traditional hospital Intensive Care Units, but in the comfort of the patient’s home. This option provides a more personalised level of care and is delivered by a team of highly trained healthcare professionals.

Adequate medical equipment is essential for the effective implementation of ICU at home. This ICU setup equipment may include items such as an IV stand, paramedic monitor, oxygen cylinder, suction machine, alpha mattress, nebulizer, DVT pump, and other necessary supplies. In addition to ICU setup equipment, clinical staff must be present round the clock to monitor patient needs and provide high-quality care.

What is the purpose of having an ICU setup at home?

ICU at Home serves the purpose of providing critical care to patients who are critically ill, in the terminal stage of diseases, recovering from surgery with post-surgery complications, experiencing respiratory disorders or organ failure, and more. In other words, a home ICU setup offers an alternative to hospital ICUs for patients who require ongoing acute care treatment but prefer the comfort and familiarity of their own homes.

Also, this service holds significant advantages for patients who may be susceptible to healthcare-associated infections during prolonged hospital ICU stays or require extensive critical care, including those with neurological disorders, spinal or brain injuries, multiple traumas, post-transplantation status, cancer, end-stage respiratory illnesses, as well as those dependent on mechanical ventilation and tracheostomies.

Skilled nurses and medical experts provide professional healthcare according to strict guidelines in a home-based ICU. They typically work under the supervision of the patient’s primary doctor and send daily reports on portable digital devices to track progress. The care is customised according to the patient’s needs.

Apart from that, patients and their families receive regular access to patient health reports, illness counselling, patient education, and consultations with doctors to ensure they are informed and involved in the patient’s progress. All in all, the purpose of ICU at Home is to offer patients high-quality critical care in the comfort of their own homes while ensuring their optimal recovery and well-being.

What are the different types of ICUs?

Hospitals have specialised Intensive Care Units (ICUs) that offer personalised care to patients based on their specific needs, and the majority of these specialised units can also be recreated in a home environment. Some examples of the different types of ICU are:

  • Coronary care and cardiothoracic care (CCUs and CTUs)
  • Medical intensive care
  • Surgical intensive care
  • Long-term intensive care (LTAC ICU)

What are the primary responsibilities of nurses at a home-based ICU?

Nurses in home-based ICUs provide various types of care to patients based on their individual needs. Some of their key responsibilities include:

  1. Basic Care: This includes tasks such as IV cannulation, managing Ryle’s tube and Foley’s catheter, wound dressing, medication administration, and personal hygiene care.
  2. Critical Care: Nurses in home-based ICUs are trained to handle ventilators, manage central lines, infuse high-alert medications, and administer oxygen.
  3. Specialist Care: They also provide specialist care for patients with tracheostomies, colostomies, PEG tubes, and tube feeding.
  4. Identifying Altered Lab Values and Other Parameters: Nurses in home-based ICUs monitor and track changes in patient lab values and other parameters to identify any deviations and take appropriate action.
  5. Life-Sustaining Procedures: They are well-trained in life-sustaining procedures such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation.

Home-based ICU as an alternative

When a loved one is seriously or terminally ill and dependent on life-saving devices and technology, families may feel that they have limited options. These options may include a prolonged stay in an ICU or continuing to live in the ICU until passing away. That said, with advancements in home care service providers, individuals who are chronically ill or disabled can now receive specialised care at home.

An intensive home care service or ICU setup at home can provide patients with long-term ventilator support and tracheostomy care, allowing them to live at home with their families. As home care service providers continue to make progress, individuals who are chronically ill or disabled can now receive specialised care at home. Home-based ICUs are accessible around the clock, every day of the year, and enable patients to receive the care they require in the familiarity and comfort of their own residences.

Benefits of an ICU setup at home

Home-based ICU care offers numerous benefits for patients and doctors alike. Here are some of the key advantages:

Cost-effective and personalised care

Choosing critical care at home provides significant cost savings, which is one of the most notable benefits. Professional home healthcare can be 60–70% less expensive than hospital treatment and the usual ICU cost per day. In addition, patients can receive individualized care with round-the-clock personal service.

Round-the-clock doctor supervision

Patients receiving critical care at home have the benefit of round-the-clock doctor supervision. This allows for quicker patient recovery due to better treatment compliance and shorter stays, which boost efficiency and throughput.

Reduced risk of hospital-acquired infections

Home-based ICU care reduces the risk of hospital-acquired infections, which can lead to complications and prolong the recovery process.

Faster recovery

Patients can recover faster in the comfort of their own homes, with the support of professional home healthcare. This leads to a quicker return to everyday life and improved patient satisfaction.

Benefits for Doctors and Patients

There are additional benefits to choosing critical care at home for both doctors and patients. Doctors can enjoy a lower risk of secondary infections, improved patient satisfaction due to better clinical results, and a lower possibility of complications. Patients, on the other hand, can experience improved compliance, significant cost savings, and a quicker recovery due to the comfort of being at home.

What are the steps involved in setting up an ICU at home?

  1. Create a dedicated space: Choose a room in your home that can be converted into an ICU. It should have enough space to accommodate medical equipment and personnel.
  2. Obtain necessary medical equipment: You will need essential ICU setup equipment, such as a hospital bed, ventilator, oxygen concentrator, blood pressure monitor, and pulse oximeter, among others, to support the patient’s vital functions. These can be obtained from medical equipment suppliers or rented from healthcare providers.
  3. Ensure reliable power backup: The ICU should have a reliable power backup to ensure that the equipment functions smoothly during power cuts or disruptions.
  4. Hire trained medical professionals: Trained medical professionals, such as nurses and doctors, are essential to managing and monitoring the patient’s condition. They can be hired on a full-time or part-time basis.
  5. Procure medical supplies: You should have a stock of necessary medical supplies, such as medications and feeding tubes, to ensure uninterrupted care.

How can professional healthcare providers help with an ICU setup at home?

  1. Consultation: Professional healthcare providers can provide guidance on setting up an ICU at home, including the necessary medical equipment, trained personnel, and supplies.
  2. Equipment rental: Healthcare providers can rent out medical equipment, including ventilators, oxygen concentrators, and hospital beds.
  3. Medical personnel: They can provide trained medical professionals, such as nurses and doctors, who can manage and monitor the patient’s condition.
  4. Telemedicine consultations: They can offer telemedicine consultations, allowing healthcare providers to remotely monitor the patient’s condition and provide necessary medical advice.

Conclusion

Innovative home-based intensive care units (ICUs) offer critical care services in the comfort of a patient’s home, providing a personalised level of care delivered by highly trained healthcare professionals. Home-based ICUs serve patients who are critically ill or recovering from surgery and require ongoing acute care treatment. The service is highly advantageous to patients susceptible to healthcare-associated infections during prolonged hospital ICU stays.

Skilled nurses and medical experts provide customised care according to patients’ needs while regularly sending progress reports to primary doctors. Patients and their families receive regular access to health reports, counselling, education, and consultations with doctors to ensure they are informed and involved in the patient’s progress.

The benefits of home-based ICU care include personalised and cost-effective care, round-the-clock doctor supervision, reduced risk of hospital-acquired infections, and faster recovery. With advancements in home care service providers, chronically ill or disabled individuals can now receive specialised care at home, significantly improving their quality of life.