Home health care during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: A review
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Abstract
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many home healthcare services have been disrupted because of the risk of infection and lack of workforce. In Thailand, there is no guidance for community healthcare providers for providing home healthcare services during the pandemic. Based on the literature review, home healthcare services should be prioritised and provided based on clinical necessity and local infection control and prevention guideline. While necessary home healthcare services including palliative care services should be continued to maintain the standard of care, some non-essential services should be stopped to reduce the risk of infection among healthcare workforces. Where possible, healthcare providers should consider telemedicine such as telephone and video call for providing home health services. Before providing home healthcare services, healthcare providers should assess their patients regarding clinical severity and possibility of having COVID-19 to ensure the safety of patients, their family members and healthcare providers. Regarding palliative care services, home healthcare providers should provide not only symptomatic management and management for anticipatory symptoms based on resource availability during the outbreak but also psychological, social and spiritual support as COVID-19 can cause psychological stress and anxiety.
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