Virtual ward technologies are a combination of hardware and software solutions that work to better enable healthcare professionals in their goal of healing people.
Hardware typically includes forms of home monitoring devices. These can be a hub, such as what The Access Group provides, but also plug-in sensors to check for movement when monitoring patients with mobility issues or Alzheimer’s for example, or perhaps wearable tech. This would include finger monitors for oxygen saturation and pulse, or blood pressure readers, or armbands to check the heart rate, fluctuations, and more.
Virtual ward software solutions play the link between the hardware and clinicians, but can also be an aid directly to these clinicians. Software can record, store, and communicate patient information – vitals or other records – between different healthcare services. Software can also help determine what sort of virtual ward care a patient needs, which staff are best suited or most available to assist, and even how to coordinate with other home visitation teams; useful in cases where a patient already receives domiciliary care.
Virtual wards are a new implemented care programme, acting as an extension of the hospital ward, but what impact do these virtual wards have? What are the benefits to patients? Are virtual wards financially viable?
It is important to assess the services provided in healthcare to ensure they are performing properly, within the realms of a budget and providing the excellent care required. Dissecting a virtual ward is no different and standards must be met, otherwise patients risk suffering.
Below is a quick video from Access giving an overview of what virtual wards are and how they function:
Everyone knows what a hospital ward is and what it does, but the advent of virtual wards has led to discussions in the media about what virtual wards are, why they matter, and whether hospital wards or virtual wards are better for patient care.
British news coverage initially suggested that virtual wards are a replacement for hospital wards. This inevitably led to public outcry and a degree of hostility towards the implementation of virtual wards, but the truth is that virtual wards are meant to be an extension of hospital care – aptly dubbed 'Hospital at Home'.
Virtual wards, also referred to as ‘Hospital at home’, are a way of providing care to patients - during the recovery process or as long-term support.
The rollout of virtual wards is being keenly pursued in 2023 in response to long hospital waiting times, especially those for A&E. Virtual wards are being established to move people out of hospital beds where feasible. Suppliers like The Access Group are providing solutions such as Access Assure to enable this remote monitoring through physical devices and integrated software.
When it comes to maintaining high and legal standards in care, staff development and training should be at the top of your list. As stated by the Care Standards Act 2000 (standard 28), care staff require at least three days of training annually to continue providing care.
Finding a good social care training provider is a very important decision to make, as the right provider can make training easier, motivate your staff and provide you with all of the evidence required to follow and meet legal criteria.
Care services are responsible for providing care and treatment to vulnerable individuals and the quality of the care they provide is largely determined by the carers within the service.. The Care Standards Act 2000 (standard 28) states that care staff require at least three days of annual training to continue providing care.
This means that training and education of both nurses and care assistants in care services are essential for the safety of both the staff and service users. It ensures that high-quality care is delivered to those who need it, staff remain motivated and that standards are always maintained.
To ensure you maintain high and legal standards within your care service, staff training and development are essential and should always be prioritised. The Care Standards Act 2000 (standard 28) states that care staff require at least three days of annual training to continue providing care.
To meet these standards, and to enhance the skills and knowledge of your care givers, you must find a good social care training provider and the right training method for you.
Making the NHS greener is not a new objective, but NHS England is making a renewed push for a greener NHS. The goal is to make efficiency savings that can be put back into care provision, whilst also benefiting the environment through less pollution and less waste.
This means balancing business practices that will benefit the environment against those that won’t; only continuing with the necessary evils that a major healthcare organisation cannot avoid if it wants to continue to provide excellent care.
How to get more home care clients? If you run a domiciliary care service it’s a question you will think about a lot. Whether you’re an established domiciliary care provider or you’re starting a home care agency, you would have noticed that the demand for care is constantly rising and may have asked yourself how your own service can fulfil that demand.
While there are many ways to market a home care business, some methods will require more time, knowledge and resources compared to others. However, whatever the size or age of your home care business, you will want to get as many people on board as possible. The more people you provide care for, the more referrals and recommendations you will receive.
From organising care home Christmas activities and Christmas entertainment, to ensuring you have safe levels of staffing and being understandably concerned about your residents at this time, if you operate or work in care homes this Christmas you have a lot to contend with.
Christmas is a time filled with joy and the company of loved ones. Unfortunately, not everyone living or working in a care home has the privilege of being around their family at Christmas, or their time may be limited due to their living setting or work commitments. Whatever their situation may be, there are things care homes can do to make Christmas a special time for all.
