Implementation of a parenteral nutrition home care programme in a tertiary hospital

Aim: the objective of this study was to describe the results of the implementation of a home parenteral nutrition (HPN) care programme (Nutrihome©) in a cohort of patients treated at a tertiary hospital. Methods: retrospective study of the patients included in Nutrihome© at Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain. Nutrihome consists of different modules including pre-discharge nursing hospital visits and nursing home visits, deliveries of the infusion pump, consumables and parenteral nutrition bags, patient training, weekly scheduled nursing home visits, scheduled nursing phone calls, stock control phone calls and 24-hour on-call line manned by the nurses. Results: the study included 8 (75 % women) and 10 (70 % women) patients in the Nutrihome© pilot and Nutrihome© programme, respectively. A total 37 adverse events were reported during Nutrihome© pilot, 26 of which were technical, 9 clinical, 1 was catheter-related and 1 other event. Nutrihome© programme registered a total of 107 adverse events reported, 57 of which were technical, 21 clinical, 16 were catheter-related and 13 were other events. A total of 99 % of these events were solved by Nutrihome© via phone calls or home visits. Conclusions: Nutrihome© programme has been extremely useful during this pandemic, facilitaing both the start of HPN and training at the patient home without the need for hospitalisation. Additionally, the adverse events reported and solved by Nutrihome© not only reduced the physicians' burden during those tough times and the patients´ stress of being hospitalised during a pandemic, but supported the entire healthcare system.