Policy Brief for the Development of Home Health Care during the Post-Corona Era Using the Experiences of the COVID-19 andemic

Authors
Mahdi Asghri Almasian
Hossein Nemati
Leila Doshmangir
10.61186/ibj.25th-11th-IACRTIMSS
Abstract
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed many challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. However, it also allowed for the flourishing of specific capabilities, including developing home care services in many countries; home care services can function as a supportive component in healthcare services. This study aimed to identify policy options for developing home healthcare during the post-COVID era using the experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Search Study: Policy options were identified in two main stages in this study. A comprehensive literature review was performed using PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and SID databases to collect data. The search used keywords such as home care, home health care, and COVID-19. After carefully reviewing the full text of the articles, all interventions used to develop home health care services were extracted. Finally, to prioritize interventions based on effectiveness, feasibility, appropriateness, sustainability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, consultation was carried out with two community health nursing faculty and three managers of home health care centers.

Results: In the literature review, 16 interventions were extracted. After consulting the experts, interventions were prioritized, and ultimately, a culturally and ethically appropriate policy option for the target community was extracted. Accordingly, the following policy options were extracted: developing a community-oriented approach in the health system, strengthening inter-professional and inter-sectoral collaborations, designing and implementing a comprehensive home health care information system and integrating it into the national electronic health record, using innovative solutions in providing home care services in crises, adopting a coordinated and comprehensive approach to prioritize primary care, insurance coverage for home health care services, providing accurate knowledge and clarifying misinformation to help people cope with emerging and re-emerging diseases.

Conclusion: The identified interventions in our study provide key policy directions for developing home health care during the post-COVID-19 era and other future crises.


Keywords
Coronavirus
COVID-19
Pandemics