The future of hospital at home care and how point of care ultrasound can help
As we continue to navigate through the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have come to realize the importance of providing care outside of traditional hospital settings. The concept of hospital at home care, also known as home hospitalization, has gained significant traction in recent years, and for good reason. Hospital at home care allows patients to receive the necessary medical attention in the comfort of their own homes, reducing the risk of exposure to healthcare-associated infections, improving patient outcomes, and cutting down healthcare costs.
But the question remains, how can we ensure that patients receive the same level of care outside of the hospital? The answer lies in leveraging technology, specifically point of care ultrasound.
Traditional ultrasound is a non-invasive diagnostic tool that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the internal organs and structures of the body. However, traditional ultrasound is usually performed by highly skilled technicians or radiologists and can only be accessed within hospital settings. This is where PONS, our AI-driven mobile ultrasound technology, comes in.
With PONS, we have transformed traditional ultrasound into a user-friendly tool that can be used by consumers or mobile care teams with limited medical background. Our AI-driven navigation and image enhancement function autonomously perform the risk assessment of health conditions and report the findings to doctors. The technology makes it possible to perform ultrasound imaging and monitor chronic disease progress outside of hospital settings.
But how does point of care ultrasound fit into the hospital at home care model?
By using point of care ultrasound, healthcare providers can perform a range of diagnostic procedures, such as assessing lung function, monitoring fluid levels, and identifying cardiac abnormalities. These procedures can be carried out in the patient’s home or in a primary care clinic, reducing the need for hospital visits and decreasing the risk of healthcare-associated infections.
Point of care ultrasound is also beneficial for remote patient monitoring. By using PONS, patients can perform ultrasound scans themselves, with the assistance of a mobile care team or caregiver. The images can then be sent to their healthcare provider for analysis, reducing the need for hospital visits and improving patient convenience.
In conclusion, the future of hospital at home care relies on the integration of innovative technologies such as point of care ultrasound. By providing patients with access to diagnostic tools outside of the hospital, we can improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and create a more patient-centered healthcare system.
