Transforming Patient Care with Virtual Wards

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We are delighted to share some fantastic news with you! Doccla has partnered with the Health Service Executive (HSE) to introduce Virtual Wards in Ireland. This innovative collaboration aims to revolutionise patient care by enabling hospital-level treatment at home. Our initial focus will be on cardiology and respiratory patients at St Vincent’s University Hospital and University Hospital Limerick.

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The HSE’s National Virtual Ward Programme is set to launch its first two Virtual Wards soon. These Virtual Wards are designed to offer a safe and efficient alternative to traditional inpatient care, using advanced technology to monitor and manage patient health remotely. This approach is particularly beneficial for patients who are medically stable but still require ongoing care before they can be discharged from the hospital.

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Why Virtual Wards Matter

Virtual Wards provide numerous benefits:

• Enhanced recovery rates: Patients can recover in the comfort of their own homes, which often leads to better recovery outcomes.
• Lower risk of hospital-acquired infections: Staying at home reduces the risk of infections that can be prevalent in hospital settings.
• Reduced likelihood of subsequent hospital admissions: Continuous monitoring helps in early detection of issues, preventing the need for readmissions.

Patients will use remote monitoring devices and a smart device to send health data to a dedicated team of nurses and doctors at the hospital. This setup ensures that patients remain under the care of their consultant-led healthcare team, maintaining continuity and quality of care.

How Doccla is Making a Difference

At Doccla, we are providing the comprehensive virtual ward solution needed to support this initiative. Our platform includes software, wearable devices, and clinical support, and has already been successfully used to monitor over 4,000,000 patient days across 500 clinical pathways. This extensive experience ensures that we can deliver high standards of patient care and compliance.

Martin Ratz, Co-Founder of Doccla, said, "We are thrilled to partner with the HSE in launching Virtual Wards in Ireland. This initiative represents a significant step forward in patient care, providing hospital-level treatment in the comfort of patients' homes. Our proven virtual ward technology will support the HSE in delivering efficient, high-quality care and improving patient outcomes. We look forward to working closely with the HSE to make this innovative healthcare model a success."

A Collaborative Effort for Better Healthcare

The programme is being spearheaded by Prof. Richard Greene, Chief Clinical Information Officer, and Deirdre McNamara, Director of Strategic Programmes. It involves stakeholders from various HSE functions, including eHealth Ireland, National Clinical Programme Respiratory, and National Heart Programme, along with patient representatives to shape and develop the service.

The goals of this initiative are ambitious and impactful:

• Establishing Virtual Wards at two acute hospital sites and evaluating their impact
• Developing a national operating model for Virtual Wards
• Overseeing technology procurement and deployment
• Develop an integrated national plan for Virtual Ward roll-out to further sites in 2025 (following completion of a robust evaluation and subject to investment).

About Doccla

Doccla is Europe’s leading provider of fully managed virtual ward services, which include patient onboarding, compliance monitoring, clinical monitoring, and logistics management. Our solutions have been validated by independent NHS-funded studies, demonstrating significant cost savings, reduced emergency admissions, and improved patient outcomes.

We are incredibly excited about this partnership with HSE and the potential it has to transform healthcare delivery in Ireland. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to roll out these transformative services across the nation. For more information, visit our website or contact us directly.

Let's look forward to a future where more patients can receive the care they need in the comfort of their own homes, thanks to the innovative solutions provided by Doccla and HSE.

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