Stakeholders push home-based care to decongest hospitals

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Healthcare professionals and other stakeholders have called for greater adoption of home-based healthcare to ease pressure on hospitals and improve access to medical services.

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The stakeholders spoke at a healthcare summit organised by Nexa Nurses, a Nigeria-based healthcare firm, last Saturday in Ikeja, Lagos.

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The event brought together certified nurses, medical practitioners and other healthcare professionals to discuss challenges in healthcare delivery and the role of home-based care in addressing them.

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Speaking at the programme, Dr Tunji Akintade, medical director of Hamaab Medical Centre in Lagos, said the shortage of healthcare workers and difficulties faced by some patients in accessing hospitals had made home-based care increasingly necessary.

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Akintade, a former chairman of the Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, said the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that some patients could receive medical attention remotely, adding that not every patient needed to visit a hospital to receive care.

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“We have a lot of patients who have issues going to hospitals. They have been placed on daily injections for a period,” he explained.

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“But if you connect with Nexa Nurse, you can always get nurses in that neighbourhood to do the same thing without the patients clustering in the hospital environment,” he added.

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He said the model could also create employment opportunities for nurses who are unable to secure placements in government facilities.

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“Quite a lot of nurses are there. They are not even getting placements in the government. But if you give them this virtual opportunity, they will be gainfully employed,” Akintade noted.

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Akintade added that home-based healthcare could particularly benefit elderly people and others who have difficulty accessing hospitals.

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He, however, stressed the importance of proper prescriptions for services provided by nurses and digital documentation after assignments are completed.

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On the nursing profession, Akintade said nursing was an art mixed with science, urging practitioners to be thorough, ethical and empathetic.

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“As nurses, you are the eyes and ears of the doctor, but also the voice of the patients,” he stated.

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He described the shortage of healthcare manpower as a reason for exploring initiatives that could expand access to care outside conventional hospital settings.

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At the summit, Nexa Nurses unveiled a mobile application designed to connect patients with qualified and registered nurses who provide care at home.

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Chief Technical Officer/Chief Operating Officer of Nexa Nurses, Collins Nwude, said the platform was created to formalise home healthcare, which he said had been taking place informally.

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Nwude said the app includes an SOS system designed to track a nurse’s location and alert the company in the event of a security issue or emergency.

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He said the company would also engage security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force, on measures to strengthen the safety of nurses and patients.

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The application is scheduled for official launch on September 7.

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The summit also featured a panel session where six nursing professionals fielded questions from participants on issues affecting the profession and healthcare delivery.

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Francis Adeshina, a mind coach and one of the speakers, said digital platforms could provide healthcare professionals with additional opportunities to earn income.

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