Vhi Hospital@Home

The Vhi Hospital@Home service is a highly valuable treatment tool allowing patients suffering from numerous illnesses to receive hospital standard treatment while in their own home. However, Vhi Hospital@Home is not suitable for everyone or for every condition.

Patients suffering from a range of conditions will be treated in the home, but the list of conditions will expand as the service develops. Your Consultant or GP will be able to advise you when it comes to deciding if your illness is currently treated by the Vhi Hospital@Home service.

The service is not available to children under the age of 16. 

Who is covered for home treatment?

If you are insured with a hospital plan, you’ll be fully covered for the service, subject to the terms and conditions of your insurance detailed in your Table of Benefits and Terms and Conditions.

Note: no excess applies under the excess plans.

No benefit applies to Plan P or Healthsteps Plans.

Vhi Hospital@Home provides treatment to patients who have been identified by their GP/Consultant and the Vhi Hospital@Home team with a condition suitable for treatment at home. The conditions currently included are…

• Pneumonias
• Lower respiratory tract infections
• Urinary tract infections
• Cellulitis (severe inflammation and infection of the skin)
• Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Osteomyelitis
• Endocarditis
• Anticoagulation
• Post operative infection and post operative management
• VAC therapy
• Cystic fibrosis
• Iron infusions
• Change of supra-pubic catheter
• Septic arthritis
• Vascular graft/pacemaker sepsis
• Total parenteral nutrition
• Short term IV hydration

Vhi Hospital@Home will expand the list of suitable conditions for home treatment in the future.

The Vhi HomeCare Medical Team

A team of full time specialist nurses and doctors will provide services to you in your own home.

Reassuringly, the Hospital-in-the-Home concept has been pioneered in Ireland by the same clinical team that will provide your care while on the Vhi Hospital@Home programme. This specialist clinical team is unique in Ireland and is led by Professor Gerry McElvaney and has safely and successfully treated thousands of patients in their own homes for many acute illnesses and chronic conditions.

Vhi Hospital@Home Medical Director

Professor NG Mc Elvaney MB, C83

FRCPI, FRCPC, Professor of Medicine, Chairman, Dept of Medicine, RCSI.

The Medical Director’s role is to provide regulatory and high level input and guidance to the other medical and nursing members of the Vhi Hospital@Home team. The review and adaptation of protocols and the evaluation of the programme on an ongoing clinical basis are also within his remit.

Vhi HomeCare Medical Team

The medical team consists of suitably qualified and experienced physicians including a permanent team of doctors, Clinical Nurse Managers and Nurses, a Consultant Microbiologist and an Infection Control Nurse Specialist. The team provides on site assessment of patients admitted into the programme and medical support and services to the nursing teams. The role and responsibilities of the medical team is broadly similar to that of a hospital based physician.

Vhi Hospital@Home Nursing Teams

Each of the participating hospitals is assigned a dedicated specialist nursing team. All of our nurses are permanent members of the team and hold all the necessary qualifications for the role. Our nurses have also undergone specific training for working on a Hospital in the Home programme.

A key member of this nursing team is the Clinical Nurse Manager (CNM). This individual is the hub for all admissions into our service. The CNM is 'embedded' in the hospitals to which his/her team is assigned. This allows the cultivation of key relationships within the specific hospitals and in turn facilitates smooth and concise referrals into the programme.

Information for referring medical practitioners

Patients may be referred to Vhi Hospital@Home via the following sources: 

1. GP referral relating to a patient in their own home or a Nursing Home in the catchment areas.

2. A referral from a Consultant attached to a hospital listed for benefit from one of the following routes:

• Accident and Emergency Department
• From the hospitals inpatient wards
• Consultants' Rooms and OPD Clinics.

The referral process is very simple, there is just a short form to complete, which can be downloaded here and faxed to 01 403 9475 or emailed to home@vhi.ie.

Our Clinical Nurse Managers are available in hospitals to smooth the referral process. All relevant staff in the hospital setting will be able to readily contact this individual to discuss any particular patient regarding the service. General Practitioners can also contact the Clinical Nurse Managers directly. Please see below the numbers for your nearest CNM.

Once contacted, the CNM will liaise with the relevant staff to process the patient into the service.

How often is a patient seen at home?

In all situations, the patient is seen or contacted by a member of the Vhi Hospital@Home team at least once a day, and up to three times a day, where required. Sometimes, patients may be requested to attend a diagnostic centre/hospital.

Do patients remain under the care of the referring physician?

All patients accepted into the programme are deemed to be under the direct care of the Vhi Hospital@Home Clinical Director. For the actual care plan, required therapy and prescription will initially be the decision of the referring physician. And this therapy may be changed by the Vhi Hospital@Home physician in consultation with the referring consultant. At all times the best clinical interest of the patient is central to the operation of the service. All referring physicians will be readily able to contact the Vhi Hospital@Home team through the relevant channels to discuss or monitor patient progress.

Are medications and equipment provided?

Yes, all medication and equipment are provided by the Vhi Hospital@Home team. Patients referred from hospitals will have a care plan agreed, in consultation with the referring hospital physician.

If a patient requires re-admission to hospital, what is the procedure?

Data suggests that a percentage (between 4% - 6%) may require re-admission to hospital while being cared for in the programme. Re-admission protocols exist for all clinical conditions treated. A decision on re-admission is made by the Vhi Hospital@Home Clinical Director in consultation with the medical and nursing team attending the patient.

How are patients discharged from the service?

Patients will be discharged from the service by the Vhi Hospital@Home team and discharge letter will be sent directly to their GP or other appropriate managing physician.

How are patient referrals made?

Patients may be referred to the service by a GP, or a Consultant who is registered with Vhi Healthcare. Referrals can be made from...

1. GP or Consultant's rooms (outpatient)
2. Vhi SwiftCare Clinics or Vhi 360 Health Centres
3. Emergency departments or in-patient wards in one of the following hospitals:

• Beaumont Hospital
• St James's Hospital
• St Vincent's Hospital
• St Vincent's Private Hospital
• Mater Misericordiae Hospital
• Mater Private Hospital
• Connolly Hospital
• Tallaght Hospital
• St Michael's Hospital, Dun Laoghaire
• Cappagh Hospital
• National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street
• Rotunda Hospital
• Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital
• Beacon Hospital
• Blackrock Clinic
• Hermitage Medical Clinic
• Bon Secours Hospital, Dublin
• Sport Surgery Clinic
• Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda
• Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan
• Naas General Hospital.
• University Hospital, Galway
• Bons Secours Hospital, Galway
• Merlin Park, Galway
• Galway Clinic

Note: Referrals from hospitals (listed in the Vhi Directory of Hospitals) outside of this area may be considered if the patient lives in the current catchment areas - such cases should be discussed with Vhi Hospital@Home.

Mission 

 “To help our customers/patients live longer, stronger, healthier lives.” 

Core Values

Vhi Hospital@Home’s vision is defined by its values. These are: 

Customer Driven     

Continually striving for excellence while placing customers/patients at the heart of what we do. Continuous quality improvement programme is at the core of our organisation.

Integrity       

Vhi Hospital@Home is committed to developing and supporting a culture of continuous quality improvement and will show compassion in all interactions with patients and their families. Advocating for our patients and applying high ethical standards daily by showing respect for the worth, quality, dignity, diversity and importance of each patient we serve and also for the people with whom we work. 

Innovation   

Vhi Hospital@Home utilises and promotes innovation in the provision of care services to maximise the outcomes. 

Empowerment

Vhi Hospital@Home endeavours to maximise its relationships with healthcare professionals to deliver a co-ordinated, quality service which is beneficial to the patient and healthcare providers. Vhi Hospital@Home endeavours to ensure that all patients and clients receive appropriate education regarding their healthcare needs, condition, plan of care and set of circumstances. 

Courage

Decisive and acts with energy and agility. Gives and accepts constructive feedback to improve quality of the service.