As we have seen in the past 18 months with COVID, the stress on the healthcare system has been tremendous. Inpatient units are full and COVID created a significant drain on acute care hospital resources. We also know that COVID can have a significant duration of symptoms and many do not become gravely ill. Good monitoring with objective devices like a pulse oximeter coupled with a physician back up and a navigator provided a safe environment in the comfort of their own home for many patient
As a practicing emergency provider, knowing that a patient being discharged is being managed by a team of navigators supported by emergency physicians gave me the comfort of knowing that our patients are being monitored very closely albeit in a non-traditional setting. That reassurance, combined with the patient satisfaction level of the process, provided me with a whole new look about how acute care management of COVID can take place. Without the navigators, that satisfaction for the patient or me as the professional
Dr. Steven Zahn, Regional Director Vituity
The COVID-19 Monitoring Program was developed to support home recovery for those patients with moderate to severe symptoms of COVID-19. Patients who had visited an AMITA emergency department with symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest pain but did not qualify for admission to the hospital, were stabilized and discharged home with a pulse oximeter and enrolled into the COVID-19 program.
Patients who were a part of the program were provided detailed symptom education and self-reported heart rate, oxygen and progression of symptoms to Healthful navigators in order to identify appropriate and timely reevaluation. This process led to patient empowerment in their self-management as well as reassurance with mental and emotional support.
Out of over 1200 patients enrolled in the COVID-19 Monitoring program:
- 96% of patients felt safer recovering at home
- The program received a net promoter score of 9.5/10 as being most likely to recommend the program to a friend or family member.
- ED Revisit rate was 5% (n = 63) reflecting appropriate utilization due to worsening severity of illness
Jasmine Johnson, COVID-19 Patient Navigator
