Save Time And Money At A Day Hospital

Attending A Day Hospital Can Save You Time and Money

Long waiting lists and chronic bed shortages are becoming common features of healthcare systems in many countries and are especially prevalent within the public sector. While the root of these problems within national health services stems largely from underfunding and the reluctance of qualified doctors and nurses to work under the prevailing conditions, lack of capacity is an overriding issue that is adversely affecting performance in both sectors. Those admitted for relatively minor treatments are almost invariably occupying a bed for too long, often delaying the treatment of more serious cases. As it happens, the day hospital offers an effective and economical means to resolve this long-standing difficulty; a fact that simply needs to be better highlighted.

This is certainly not a new idea, but one that has been tried and tested over the course of decades in Britain and the remainder of the EU, as well as in America and Australia. Their experience has demonstrated unequivocally that procedures carried out in this type of centre are markedly more cost-effective than when conducted in an acute-care facility. While everyone who is scheduled for surgery needs to be assured of the best possible treatment, this does not automatically necessitate a prolonged period as an in-patient. Experience has shown that more than 70% of all surgical procedures can be performed in a day hospital.

This more cost-effective option for service providers allows them to limit tariffs, which, in turn, is good news for patients. However, the benefits to patients are more far-reaching than simple economics. Much of that which can now be achieved in these centres has been made possible by advances in medical technology that have led to the development of less invasive procedures. These new techniques mean that post-operative recovery is quicker, and so patients can return to work earlier. In addition, the shorter stay in a day hospital has been shown to virtually eliminate the risk of the drug-resistant infections that have become increasingly common in acute facilities.

Those who may have been involved in a motor accident or who have suffered a heart attack or stroke must, of course, still be treated in a conventional hospital. However, when relieved of the responsibility for dealing with routine surgery and investigative procedures such as colonoscopies and bronchoscopies, this frees personnel and facilities to attend to emergency cases rather than leaving them on gurneys awaiting a vacant bed or theatre.

The day hospital makes this possible and, accordingly, Intercare has established a number of them, each with 20 to 24 beds and three operating theatres furnished with the latest in medical technology and equipment.