In an effort to increase capacity for COVID-19 patients at CoxHealth’s hospitals, the system is expanding its abilities to care for patients -- at home.

The initiative allows the health system to care for patients at home who are convalescing for COVID-19 and other issues that can be appropriately treated in the home setting. This option, which will only be utilized in select situations where care can be properly delivered to meet patients’ needs, will result in a greater bed capacity for others who require inpatient care.

“This initiative has been made possible because of several departments working well together, including our EMS teams, CoxHealth at Home, the Cox Family Medicine Residency and many others,” says David Taylor, corporate vice president for CoxHealth. “We believe this effort will make a difference for patients, and will help increase capacity for patients with needs that require in-patient care.”

Under the initiative, patients will be transported home by CoxHealth’s Advance Practice Paramedics team, which will ensure that all appropriate monitoring equipment is installed. Via remote connections, physicians in the Cox Family Medicine Residency, as well as others at the hospital, will monitor patients’ progress, and adjust care should the need arise.

CoxHealth at Home, CoxHealth’s home health agency, will coordinate staff visits which will occur at least twice per day. In addition, they will provide remote patient monitoring, equipment, supplies, IVs, and medications.

CoxHealth expands at-home care for COVID-19 patients