Skip to main content

Things To Consider For An ICU Setup At Home During The COVID Times

Medical care is expensive. With COVID-19 cases rising at an alarming rate, ICU beds got exhausted, and healthcare facilities are finding it increasingly difficult to cater to all patients in need. However, a cost-effective and marginally safer alternative is available. There are certain agencies and healthcare institutions that provide intensive care setups at home. It allows for critically ill patients and those suffering from moderate to severe COVID-19 symptoms and infections to get the help they need at home.

These sorts of setups decrease the wait for a bed in a hospital or risk themselves to the exposure of other sick patients. With that being said, people must only resort to intensive care at home when the patient’s condition is severe. For example, if they are suffering from critical cases of pneumonia or other terminal illnesses, it is recommended to opt for an ICU setup at home.

What are the constituents of a home ICU setup for COVID?

  1. Critical care nurse – A certified nurse to take care of the patient’s daily needs is essential. Home attendants for the elderly are necessary to check their bladder and bowel movement, manage bedsores, monitor the ventilator, take regular oxygen and temperature checks, and adequately feed the patient. They must also know how to operate all the required equipment. A good nurse can make a huge difference in a patient’s recovery.
  1. Medical equipment – Technologically advanced medical equipment is absolutely crucial in an ICU home setup. The most basic equipment requisites are:
    1. A para monitor
    2. Suction machine
    3. Nebuliser
    4. Deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) pump
    5. IV stand
    6. An alpha bed
    7. Oxygen cylinder
    8. Ventilator (if essential)
    9. BiPAP machine (if essential)

3. Bedsore management – Prolonged periods of bed rest can result in ulcers on the parts of the skin on which you are lying down. This can cause severe infections to the patient and decelerate the recovery process. An alpha mattress must be provided to avoid this, and the patient’s dressing must also be changed 2-3 times a day.

4. Power backup – In case of a power cut, the equipment and machines should have an alternative power supply to prevent the recovery process from facing hindrances.

Cost breakdown of an ICU home setup

This is a rough breakdown of an ICU home setup cost to give you a brief idea of the price range while opting for it. It will also help you understand the pros of a home setup compared to a hospital ICU.

Sr No. Item Price
  Medical equipment Rs. 10,000 – Rs. 25,000 per day
  Critical care nurse  for 24 hours Rs. 5,000 per day
  Doctor consultations f Rs. 3,000 per visit
  Caregiver available 24 hours Rs. 4,000 per day
  Regular COVID-19 care package Rs. 6,000 per day onwards

According to a professional, an ICU set up at home is less than 50% of the hospital cost. A hospital ICU would cost you Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 30,000 per day while a home ICU setup would cost you Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000 a day.

Tips for setting up an ICU system at home

  1. It is essential to have a certified ICU experienced nurse who has undergone sufficient training at verified training institutions and hospitals. During emergencies, they should be equipped with the proper knowledge to know what to do and get immediate help.
  2. When looking at agencies that offer home ICU setups, consider looking for one that provides a 24×7 ambulance service that can be utilised during an emergency to avoid wasting valuable time.
  3. The room that the ICU setup is set up in should be cleaned and sanitised twice a day. Proper precautions are to be taken to keep the patient safely isolated.

Why should you consider an ICU setup at home?

  1. Cost-effective – As mentioned above in the cost breakdown, the price difference between the two is evident. A hospital ICU would cost you Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 30,000 a day while a home ICU setup would set you by Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000 a day. This is quite a price difference to be noted.
  1. One to one care – In most cases, when resorting to hospital ICUs, it is difficult to get their attention. Even nurses attend to 3-4 patients at a time at a hospital. But when it comes to a home setup, a nurse available to you solely 24×7 and scheduled calls with the doctor allows for all the necessary attention.
  1. The comfort of home – Being able to recover in the comforts of your own home is a luxury that has proven to be more effective and cost-effective. It is also safer than being in a public environment as the risks of contracting any other infections during the recovery process is slim to none.

Home ICU setups benefit from receiving quality healthcare at a considerably lower price with the same treatment as you would get in a hospital. This allows for safer and more convenient treatment and recovery. In addition, such facilities prove that during a crisis, the healthcare system pulled together to their best abilities to offer their facilities to those in dire need. 

The post Things To Consider For An ICU Setup At Home During The COVID Times appeared first on Samvedna Senior Care.



from Samvedna Senior Care https://ift.tt/356cJcm
via IFTTT
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Connection Between Aging, Exercise, and Healthy Lungs

Enjoying a long and healthy retirement requires taking good care of yourself. While many people focus on living a heart-smart lifestyle, taking proactive steps to maintain healthy lungs is essential, too. As we age, the lungs become weaker and less flexible. This can contribute to a variety of diseases and chronic health conditions. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute , lung-related illnesses are the 3rd leading cause of death in this country. That includes lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma—adding up to nearly 235,000 deaths a year. Here are a few tips you can use to keep your lungs healthy: Stop smoking. Talk with your primary care physician about smoking cessation programs. Avoid secondhand smoke. Research shows it can be just as deadly as being a smoker. Stay away from harsh chemicals. It’s important to avoid breathing in damaging fumes (e.g., home cleaners and weed killers). Prevent infections. Many infections can lead to
Post a Comment
Read more

How You Can Join the Fight Against Alzheimer’s

World Alzheimer’s Month in September is an opportunity to raise awareness about this complex disease and to challenge the stigmas surrounding dementia. Launched in 2012, the awareness month spotlights the fact that 2 out of every 3 people globally believe there is little understanding of dementia in their countries. More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia and it is the 6 th leading cause of death in the US, according to the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual report. With the senior population growing quickly, Alzheimer’s and dementia cases will continue to increase as well, unless researchers can find a cure. This upcoming Monday, Sept. 21, is World Alzheimer’s Day, a call to action for all of us to educate ourselves on how to take preventative steps, identify symptoms and support loved ones who have been diagnosed. Read more below to learn how to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s disease. Know the Warning Signs Detecting Alzheimer’s disease e
Post a Comment
Read more

Film Screening at Samvedna Senior Care

On 30th September, 2019, Samvedna Senior Care Foundation hosted the 2nd film festival of generations in association with Heidelberg University, Germany. The film Sputnik Moment – 30 years and beyond was screened at our senior citizen centre in Gurgaon for our members and staff. The film highlighted how senior citizens in Germany and the US were taking up second careers to fill their time, engage meaningfully and also get support through additional income. Post the screening Dr. Martin Gieselmann, Executive Secretary, SAI, Heidelberg University and Dr. Constanze, Coordinator DAAD Project, Heidelberg University along with our team engaged with the audience in an interesting discussion on the Indian scenario. Members shared that in India it is not easy for senior citizens to pick up jobs after retirement, however it was interesting to see that many in the audience did have jobs post retirement. They also spoke about stereotypes and social attitudes towards ageing and shared their per
Post a Comment
Read more