The Czech population is aging and, according to demographers, the proportion of the population over 65 in the Czech Republic will increase from approximately 20% to 30% by 2050. This will lead to higher morbidity typical of the senior population and increase the burden on the health system, which requires restructuring care towards field services, home care and strengthening the role of general practitioners, warns Dominika Tóthová from the National Institute SYRI and the Faculty of Economics and Administration of Masaryk University. In the new project, she will participate in the evaluation of the quality of home care based on case management and telemedicine, the importance of which is increasing.
"In the future, it is evident that the increase in number of patients will increase and the current capacities in hospitals cannot handle it. The solution is to strengthen the role of home care using new methods and technologies, which, however, does not have a standardised quality assessment system, which hinders its development," warns the scientist. Unnecessary hospitalisations can be reduced by the effective involvement of telemedicine, assistive technologies and case management. Similarly, these steps can increase patient self-sufficiency and improve the coordination of health and social care.
They will address the questions of how home care based on telemonitoring, case management, etc. is effective compared to standard home care, whether it brings patients a better quality of life and what savings it can mean for the health system.
The project aims to increase the quality, accessibility and efficiency of home care as a full-fledged part of the health system. Scientists will verify a new model of home care in five regions of the Czech Republic. The project involves 5 inpatient care providers and 32 home care providers, who will cooperate with 320 patients and 70 informal caregivers. The main output will be a cost-effectiveness analysis, which will provide data for future strategic decisions on the development of home care.
The results of the project, which will include, among others, the HEPII research team, including some who also participate in SYRI activities, will be useful primarily for health insurance companies and payers who need to effectively manage the financing of health services. Furthermore, for healthcare providers who want to optimize their services and allocate resources more effectively, health policymakers and, last but not least, for patients and their families.
The project, implemented by the National Center for Nursing and Non-Medical Health Professions established by the Ministry of Health, represents a key step towards the modernisation of healthcare in the Czech Republic. “The results can be a crucial basis for the creation of healthcare policy that will reflect the needs of the ageing population and the sustainability of the healthcare system,” added Tóthová.
Press release SYRI (only in Czech): Domácí péče jako budoucnost zdravotního systému
