The Future of Healthcare Services is at Home

The home health industry developed out of a growing and urgent need to care for an aging population who required healthcare services, which otherwise, was only exclusively accessible at hospitals and clinics. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), by 2050, people over the age of 60 years old will be 22 percent of the total population and here in the UAE, 29 percent of the total population. In addition to the UAE's aging population, the country is also attracting thousands of high-net-worth individuals looking to take advantage of the long term residency golden visa and tax breaks offered for retirees. With that in mind, home healthcare services in the UAE have slowly evolved and expanded from strictly providing physical assistance for the elderly experiencing physical attrition or recovery from surgeries and injuries, to more comprehensive healthcare services aimed at preventive care and support for citizens and residents across all age groups. 

More importantly, due to the COVID pandemic, people have become more cautious and opposed to visiting high traffic areas such as malls, but more specifically to hospitals, where the exposure to people with viruses and diseases can be higher. So, what are some important and relevant home healthcare services available to UAE residents? Medcare Hospital in Dubai is currently providing 6 home healthcare services accesible to people of all ages: doctor, lab, nurse, physio, vaccine and Covid-testing at home.

Doctor at home is the best way to consult with a qualified physician without having to visit a hospital or clinic. This saves people hours travelling back and forth between home and hospital and sitting in waiting rooms. Also, the service is convenient for people with either an illness or mobility issues who would otherwise be able to visit the hospital. 

Lab at home is designed specifically for people needing a diagnostic blood test and have been either prolonging or putting it off. Since a routine blood check is recommended once a year, this test is convenient and simple to access. The lab at home service provides tests to evaluate overall health and help doctors screen for any diseases or health conditions. This lab service provides a list of over 20 blood tests to evaluate: liver, prostate, lipid, cholesterol, pregnancy and allergy just to name a few.

Nurse at home is a support service for people who require post-surgery care such as wound care, dressing and injections and IV infusions, or suffer from chronic health conditions at home. Since the start of the pandemic and with the general atmosphere of hospitals, people prefer to recover at home while having the support from family members. Medcare’s nurse at home service provides people of all ages, suffering from various medical conditions, diseases and disabilities, with highly qualified nurses directly to their homes without compromising on comfort and safety. 

Physio at home is physiotherapy services provided to people looking to restore their physical strength, mobility and function. Some common conditions addressed by physiotherapists at home include: knee pain, back pain, sciatica, shoulder pain, sports injuries and post-surgery rehabilitation. Each visit from the physiotherapist to your home will last for 45 minutes or longer if needed, and can be arranged at flexible timings. Physiotherapy is one of the most important medical requirements for people looking to maintain and restore a physically active and healthy lifestyle.

Vaccine at home is an in-home inoculation service to help supplement the immune system and prevent diseases. For parents, having a vaccine administered at home works well for their children and the luxury of choosing the most ideal time. The process greatly reduces waiting times to see the physician. Additionally, the vaccine at home process greatly reduces the stress and nervous anticipation children feel at hospitals waiting to receive the jab.

COVID-testing at home is a swab sample taken from the nose and throat (COVID-19 PCR test) to identify the presence of a COVID-19 infection. For anyone looking to travel abroad or visit Abu Dhabi, a COVID-19 PCR test is mandatory. Medcare can provide qualified nurses directly to homes, conduct the PCR test and submit the sample to the lab for examination. Test results will be made available to people within 24 to 48 hours via SMS message to their registered mobile numbers.

Fundamentally, healthcare services are provided at hospitals and clinics and are the focal point of hospital operations. However, with people’s changing lifestyles and their expectations of speedy services in general, it is only natural for healthcare providers to expand their capabilities outside of their current wheelhouse. Home healthcare will continue to grow in popularity and acceptance amongst people, ultimately pushing healthcare providers to also focus more on developing relevant in-home medical support and treatments. 

For more information on home healthcare services and request bookings, please visit: https://www.drfive.com/campaign/medcare-home-services/