There are situations when you get a choice between treating the patient in the hospital or treating at home through home nursing. Deciding on which option to go ahead with is a critical decision. Because if something goes wrong while treating the patient through home nursing, it will affect you emotionally, and you might regret your decision. In a city like Mumbai, the choice between these two options is influenced majorly by factors like cost of hospitalization, distance to the hospital, traffic, home space constraints, etc.
Essential Questions to Ask Your Doctor
A Doctor can help you arrive at the right decision as a professional evaluation considers the risks involved vs the benefits. All you must do is to ask the right questions for doctors, which will lead to a safe, informed, and practical decision regarding choosing home care for your patient.
Presented below are the important questions to ask a doctor.
1. Is the Patient mentally and medically ready for home nursing care?
The doctor can evaluate the patient’s mental state and physical medical condition thoroughly and give you qualified advice on whether the patient’s condition can be safely managed outside the hospital. The doctor will also explain in detail about the risks involved in home nursing care vis-à-vis hospital admission.
2. What kind of Nursing skill is needed to take care of the patient?
There are qualified caregivers and professionally trained home nurses available to fulfil the objective of home nursing care. You need to ask whether the condition of the patient demands daily care offered by a caregiver or a trained nurse provided by home nursing attendant services.
3. What kind of medical monitoring will be needed for the patient?
Depending on the condition of the patient, there will be different medical monitoring requirements.
Generally, the vital signs that are monitored for patient recovery are:
- Blood pressure.
- Blood glucose.
- Oxygen levels.
- Medical review by a doctor.
4. What if the hospital stay gets extended? Won’t it affect the patient adversely?
Staying at a hospital is no pleasant experience, and when it is an extended stay, the patient can experience:
- Depression and emotional stress.
- High costs.
- There is a risk of catching Hospital-acquired infections.
- Adverse impact on mobility.
5. What is the downside of shifting a patient from a hospital setting to home nursing?
- Emergencies are difficult or impossible to manage in a home setting.
- If the caregiver is not well-trained, the health of the patient may be compromised.
- There can be a delay in intervention when complications happen.
6. Which Medical equipment shall I keep at home for optimum home nursing care?
The basic medical equipment needs for a bedridden patient are:
- Hospital bed with air mattress.
- Oxygen support.
- Blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring equipment.
- Suction or feeding equipment.
- Oximeter, thermometer.
7. What are the symptoms in a patient that point towards the need for hospitalisation?
This is a very important question to ask, as Mumbai traffic conditions might impede helping the patient reach the hospital fast in an emergency. You should know the symptoms that require immediate hospitalisation. Also, know which ambulance service to contact and the address of the nearest well-equipped hospital in Navi Mumbai.
8. In case of complications, can a doctor come for a home visit? Will Teleconsultation help?
You need to ask whether the doctor is available for a home visit or whether teleconsultations are sufficient for follow-ups. Also, keep pathology lab numbers handy for home sample collection in Mumbai.
9. How can I manage minor emergencies or pain at home?
Get an idea about how to manage pain, breathlessness, giving CPR, anxiety/agitation. This is a critical part of caregiver advice for home-based management.
10. What should my family members know about patient care?
Ask for guidance on:
- Wound care and Catheter care.
- Medication, Feeding and repositioning.
- General hygiene / Infection control.
- Prevention of bed sores.
11. What will be the frequency of the doctor reviewing the Patient’s condition?
Ask about the frequency of doctor visits to ensure the Mumbai healthcare plan is staying on track.
12. What costs can be saved over time with home care?
Be aware of the treatment duration, the likelihood of worsening the patient’s condition, and the possibility of increased complications, so you can clarify the costs and the type of patient management to choose in Navi Mumbai.
13. How should we ensure infection control at home?
Know how to maintain personal hygiene, follow visitor restrictions, and take necessary environmental precautions to ensure patient recovery.
Conclusion
Deciding between a hospital stay and home nursing is a significant step in hospital discharge planning. By asking these 13 essential questions for doctors, you can ensure that your loved one receives the safest and most effective care possible within the comfort of your home. At NityaNurse, we provide expert home nursing and home nursing attendant services throughout Mumbai and Navi Mumbai to support you in every stage of patient recovery.