Aga Khan University Hospital launches flexible, convenient home care service
The new home care service, launched on February 15, 2024, provides a flexible and convenient way for patients and caregivers to access quality healthcare.
The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) is offering patients the option to receive medical care from the comfort of their homes, eliminating the need for them to travel to the facility.
AKUH has launched Home Care Services, which it describes as a flexible and convenient way for patients and caregivers to access quality healthcare.
In an interview with Citizen Digital, AKUH Chief Executive Officer Rashid Khalani said the project was inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic, which left hospitals deserted as patients avoided infection.
Khalani noted that the project will ensure patients requiring oncology care, and palliative care, and those with chronic illnesses, receive uninterrupted support despite logistical challenges.
“It not only addresses the needs of patients but also alleviates the burden on caregivers who often have to adjust their daily routines to accommodate hospital visits,” he said, following the launch on February 15, 2024.
He added that the return of patients to hospitals post-vaccination revealed they were in more advanced stages of illness.
To mitigate future healthcare hesitations, the hospital proactively opted to extend its services directly to patients' homes, the CEO said.
“If you are an 80 or 90-year-old patient on palliative care, you do not have to be in a hospital bed. You can stay with your family, enjoy your remaining days with your grandchildren, and we will be there to help you,” he said.
Khalani assured the continuation of high-quality care in home settings and pledged to educate caregivers on best practices. He also highlighted the seamless integration of electronic medical records, facilitating efficient and consistent care delivery.
“The physician looking after the patient within the hospital will remain the primary doctor even if the patient is being treated at home,” he said. “If a nurse is going to a patient’s home, their medical history is available at the click of a button. That ensures consistency of care.”
The home care service is currently available in Nairobi with plans underway for a nationwide reach. Patients new to the hospital can request these services while existing patients may be recommended for home care based on their medical needs.
Khalani said they are currently providing nursing care for 12 or 24 hours, providing a nutritionist, physiotherapy support, home medication, and a home lab.
AKUH's home case service is part of the hospital's decentralisation of services from the main hospital, adding to services offered by a wide outpatient network of 53 centres across Kenya and Uganda.
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