Hospital Doctors

MediHome provides professional, safe nursing for patients who no longer require immediate access to the full range of services provided in an acute hospital but who are not yet ready for discharge.

When we care for one of your patients in their own home, in effect they are in a ‘virtual ward’ of the hospital. The patient remains the clinical responsibility of the hospital, and you can retain control over their treatment depending on locally agreed clinical governance pathways. You have immediate round-the-clock internet access (through our Electronic Patient Records system) to all the latest observations and documentation (including images if required) from our MediHome nurses and team.

At all times, you can have complete confidence in our robust clinical governance system, which includes thorough risk assessment and risk management processes. Our staff members are fully inducted and trained, and regularly updated through a robust internal learning and development plan.

Hospital doctor FAQs

1. What does this service mean for me?
   When a patient passes into our care, they are transferred to a ‘virtual ward’ of the hospital. Usually, you remain clinically responsible for your patient, and fully in control of their medical care until they are finally discharged.
2. How do I monitor someone who is not an inpatient?
   You are not required to make any home visits. You may access the very latest patient observations and clinical notes from any internet-linked PC without needing to wait until the next ward round or other opportunity to visit the patient. If necessary, nurses can post images of wounds or 12 lead ECGs onto the EPR system.
3. Why should I use this service?
   It’s good for the patient, the hospital, and you. Patients generally prefer to be at home rather than in hospital. Academic research points to improved outcomes for many conditions and the risks of hospital-acquired infection are reduced. Costs can be reduced and hospital resources, including beds and staff, can be better used.
4. Will it create more work for me?
   Simply, no. A nominated person is asked to log onto the EPR, but this is quicker than going on a ward round, and there is an additional safety check.
5. How can I learn more about the service?
   We would be delighted to explain more about how we work in a face-to-face meeting with a group of clinicians and managers. We would then compile a proposal for your trust, based on a review of your case mix.
6. Can I be confident of high quality service?
   We operate within a robust clinical governance framework, and have a comprehensive set of policies and frameworks. For more details click here. We are also regulated by the Care Quality Commission. 
7. Are patients happy with your service?
   Our nurses and physiotherapists receive very positive scores in our patient satisfaction surveys. This bears out academic research demonstrating that patients prefer this pattern of care. For more details click here.
8. Is there evidence for the benefits of this service?
   Our MediHome Review archive contains links to a number of studies that demonstrate benefits in terms of clinical outcome as well as patient preference. For more details click here.
9. What if a patient doesn’t want acute care at home?
   Our policy is to only care for patients who have given their consent to receive treatment from MediHome.