Reducing costs and avoiding hospital admissions: can mobile working help?

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• The UK experiences longer hospital stays compared to other European nations.
• Increasing hospital admissions are linked to an aging population and inadequate management of long-term conditions.
• Fragmentation in health and social care services hinders integrated working and avoidable hospital admission reduction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore factors contributing to increased hospital admissions in the UK.
• To assess the role of community services and integrated care models in reducing hospitalizations.
• To evaluate the impact of mobile working and electronic patient records on healthcare delivery.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of hospital admission trends and length of stay data.
• Review of community service provision, including case managers and community matrons.
• Examination of the implementation and impact of mobile working in the National Health Service (NHS).

Main Results:

• An aging UK population and poor management of long-term conditions are key drivers of increased hospital admissions.
• Variations in service provision and the availability of community-based healthcare professionals are significant issues.
• Mobile working, providing real-time access to electronic patient records, aims to improve care continuity and reduce treatment delays.

Conclusions:

• Further investment in community services is essential for enabling 'care closer to home'.
• Improved integration between health and social care services is fundamental to reducing avoidable hospital admissions.
• While mobile working offers potential benefits, various factors may still impede a reduction in hospital admissions.