Atrium Health Navicent Expands “Hospital at Home” Virtual Care to Include Pediatric Patients
Hospital at Home allows pediatric COVID-19 and diabetes patients to receive remote monitoring
For the last year, patients diagnosed with COVID-19 have been able to receive hospital-level treatment in the comfort of their own homes thanks to Atrium Health Navicent’s innovative virtual Hospital at Home COVID Monitoring Program. The program, which is designed to protect the patient’s health, the health of others, and prevent further spread of the virus, has now expanded to include pediatric patients and pediatric diabetes patients, providing equal access to care to all children.
Pediatric patients are referred from the inpatient and emergency room settings at Atrium Health Navicent Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital. Hospital at Home is currently accepting patients aged 17 and younger who have received either a COVID-19 or new diabetes diagnosis, and who meet certain criteria.
Patients referred to the Hospital at Home program must have telephone access. For both COVID-19 and newly diagnosed diabetes patients, at-home caregivers monitor and log the pediatric patient’s vital signs and participate in check-in calls with a care team which includes a pediatrician, a pediatric nurse practitioner, and a pediatric nurse. The patient’s parent or guardian may also access a 24/7 support line for any questions about their child’s health.
Through the virtual care delivery system, care providers can spot any trends or worsening symptoms and provide early intervention, if needed, before an emergency occurs. For pediatric diabetes patients, Hospital at Home helps bridge the gap between the time when a child is discharged from the hospital with a new diabetes diagnosis until when they establish care with a pediatric endocrinologist. The program allows parents and guardians to receive assistance monitoring the child’s blood sugar levels, diet and insulin usage, and to prevent potential complications that could lead to readmission to the hospital.
“Hospital at Home is just one more way that Atrium Health Navicent is innovating for the future and working to improve access to high quality health care,” said Atrium Health Navicent Chief Medical Officer Patrice Walker. “Using this program, qualifying patients can recover and receive monitoring from the comfort of home, hopefully preventing the need for, or shortening, an in-person hospital stay. In the future, we hope to add qualifying diagnoses to allow more children equal access to care.”
For information about Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital, visit childrenshospitalnh.org. To learn more about how Atrium Health Navicent is providing care during COVID-19, visit navicenthealth.org/covid-19-resources
About Atrium Health Navicent
Atrium Health Navicent is the leading provider of healthcare in central and south Georgia and is committed to its mission of elevating health and wellbeing through compassionate care. Atrium Health Navicent provides high-quality, personalized care in 53 specialties at more than 50 facilities throughout the region. As part of the largest, integrated, nonprofit health system in the Southeast, it is also able to tap into some of the nation’s leading medical experts and specialists with Atrium Health, allowing it to provide the best care close to home – including advanced innovations in virtual medicine and care. Throughout its 125-year history in the community, Atrium Health Navicent has remained dedicated to enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. It is also one of the leading teaching hospitals in the region, helping to ensure viability for rural health care for the next generation. For more information, please visit www.NavicentHealth.org.