North West Hospital and Health Service (HHS) is celebrating two years of the Hospital in the Home (HITH) program which continues to provide huge benefits to the local community by freeing up hospital beds, treating patients in the comfort of their own home and improving patient recovery times.

The initial 10-week pilot program that started in 2021 has shifted into an ongoing model of care successfully treating patients at home for conditions requiring low level medical and nursing intervention.

North West HHS HITH Clinical Nurse Consultant Ade George said limiting the amount of time patients spend in hospital was a positive for both patients and the health service.  

“Being able to keep our patients comfortable at home, while still providing excellent treatment is our priority,” she said.

“HITH allows patients to have the convenience of being treated at home with their support network close to them, and limits the amount of time they need to be visiting hospital or occupying a bed in hospital.”

In 2022, bed days at Mount Isa Hospital were reduced by 825 days, with less patients requiring admission to hospital thanks to the HITH model of care. With stable patients and conditions being managed in the community, patient satisfaction has increased and positive health outcomes recorded.

155 patients engaged with the HITH program in 2022 and a total of 303 patients have used the service since it started on 1 March 2021.

HITH has proven to be of great benefit to the North West and will continue to be a permanent model of care used to provide treatment to patients going forward.