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Hospital in the home: needed now more than ever

Hugh G Dickson
Med J Aust 2020; 213 (1): . || doi: 10.5694/mja2.50662
Published online: 6 July 2020

Changes in models of care elicited by COVID‐19 may improve the quality of at‐home care for patients

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) epidemic continues, attention in Australian hospitals has rapidly become more focused on methods for safely caring for patients while avoiding, when possible, admitting them to hospital or having them visit a hospital outpatient clinic. Diversion from hospitals reduces the risks for both patients and staff of cross‐infection or new infection with the COVID‐19 virus (SARS‐CoV‐2). Telehealth1 and hospital in the home2 (HITH) are two approaches for removing or reducing the need to attend a hospital while maintaining access to its clinical services. Neither system of care is novel, but each is experiencing a predictable surge in activity as the epidemic advances, and the two methods can be combined.


  • Livepool Hospital, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW



Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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