Advancements in healthcare technology have given us several benefits. They have allowed patients to recover without travelling to hospitals and clinics. A major invention in the field is an ICU setup at home.

ICUs are dedicated spaces that provide extensive medical care to critically ill patients. So far, these spaces have been limited to hospitals. Today, a critically ill patient can recover from the comfort of their home, all thanks to the ICU at-home services.

Let us understand this initiative, its key components, and how it can benefit you and your loved ones.

What Is An ICU Setup At Home?

This service offered by trained doctors and hospitals involves setting up an ICU in a patient’s home. Healthcare professionals install all the equipment and tools needed for an ICU, making it as effective as a conventional ICU. A home-based ICU has everything from dedicated ICU beds and IV drips to advanced machines and monitors.

If your home allows such a setup, you can look for home-based ICU services in your city. Healthcare professionals will assess the location, confirm the feasibility, and create the setup to help your loved one(s) recover in peace.

What Are The Components Of A Home-based ICU?

Here are the most important components of home ICU care:

Medical Equipment

An ICU is incomplete without relevant medical equipment. The machines and tools used in a conventional ICU allow a patient to recover from a critical disease. You will need this equipment when you set up an ICU at home, too.

While basic medical equipment remains the same across all cases, you may need special machines or gadgets to tackle specific cases. Typically, a home-based ICU should be equipped with ventilators, monitors, suction machines, oxygen suppliers, infusion pumps, bedside commodes, specialized ICU beds, and more.

Medical Supplies

Along with medical equipment, you also need the right supplies to provide critical medical care to a patient in a home-based ICU. These supplies range from IV drips and dressings to feeding tubes and adult diapers. Healthcare professionals should also have gloves and sanitary wipes to keep everyone (including themselves) safe from infections.

Doctors And Nursing Staff

The team of healthcare professionals is also a key component of home-based ICU services. The patient may need their doctor along with a dedicated nursing staff throughout their recovery journey. More than the doctors, the nurses, and caregivers are responsible for looking after a patient admitted to an ICU at home.

Depending on the patient’s condition, they may also need dedicated specialists, such as respiratory specialists, cardiologists, physical therapists, etc. This team works day and night to bring the patient out of danger.

Support Systems

The seemingly trivial but extremely important support systems needed for an ICU at home should never be ignored. They include everything from power backup and wheelchairs to temperature control devices and air purifiers.

How Can A Home-based ICU Help You And Your Loved Ones?

If you are still unsure whether you should set up an ICU at home, here are a few major benefits of having such a setup at home:

One-on-one Care

While ICUs in hospitals also offer personalized services, nothing matches the degree of personalization a patient receives at home. A home-based ICU ensures that your loved ones receive tailor-made critical care. Here, the equipment, supplies, and nursing staff work for a single individual. Such focused care increases the speed of a patient’s recovery.

High Comfort

There is hardly any other place where we feel as comfortable as we do at home. Bringing the ICU at home makes a patient comfortable, taking them out of the mechanical and foreign hospital setting. Being at ease has a small but significant impact on a critically ill patient’s recovery.

Familiarity

Along with comfort, a patient admitted to a home-based ICU enjoys familiarity. Even if their loved ones are not in the same room, they know that the family members are around. This gives a patient much-needed confidence to fight serious health complications.

Low Infection Risks

No matter how to secure a hospital ICU is, there is always some risk of infections as doctors and nurses keep traveling across the hospital premises. This is not the case with home-based ICU care.

Here, a patient stays in a completely controlled environment throughout their recovery journey. There are no other patients to deal with, significantly reducing the risk of infections.

Cost-effective

While the setup cost of a home-based ICU can be expensive, it is more affordable in the long run. If your loved one needs long-term ICU care, setting up an ICU at home will reduce your bills. If they have an insurance plan that covers some of these costs, the services will be even cheaper for your family.

Better Quality Of Life

Overall, recovering in a home-based ICU gives a patient a better quality of life. Here, a team of dedicated nurses and caregivers looks after the smallest tasks involved in a patient’s routine. Also, staying in a familiar setting while recovering makes it easier for a patient to rehabilitate once they no longer need an ICU.

No Traveling Issues

Setting up an ICU at home prevents patients and their loved ones from travelling long distances to hospitals. While the family members and friends need to follow specific protocols, there are no strict visiting hours under these circumstances. This gives a patient’s family greater control over the situation.

Watch Your Loved One Recover From Critical Conditions From The Comfort Of Their Home With DocVille

If any of your friends or family members have encountered a critical illness and need long-term ICU care, Docville helps you set up an ICU at home. After a thorough assessment, our healthcare professionals will help you install the right equipment and get the right supplies. With Docville, your loved ones will receive comprehensive critical care without leaving their homes. Reach out to us today to learn more about this setup and its procedure.