In India, the pioneer of transition care centres is SuVitas, a Hyderabad based start-up with 100 beds, that was recently acquired by NCR based home health pioneer HCAH. Together, HCAH SuVitas are on track to building 1500 beds in the country to supplement and complement our national infrastructure and address the above needs.
Speaking at a webinar organised by HEAL Health in association with HCAH SuVitas on how much is India ready when COVID 3.0 is impending, Vivek Srivastava, Co-Founder & CEO, HCAH, said, “It is a matter of great satisfaction that at the height of Covid-19, we saved many lives in Delhi. We have treated over 10 lakh Covid-19 patients during the first and second wave. Imagine if all of them had gone to hospitals? The hospital infrastructure would have collapsed. There are some fundamental changes required to future proof our country. We have less than 1 doctor per 1000 population and around 1 bed per 1000 population which are much lesser than the world average and WHO standards. If we have to improve the bed capacity, we need faster and cheaper rollout of beds which is where home beds (free) and transition care (c.10% of hospital bed cost) can play a key role. Together home healthcare and transition care can ensure that this scenario does not happen again.”
“The concept of Transition Care facilities is not new. However, unlike in the United States where there are highly niche centres dedicated to this space, we have created an India specific solution. Our typical 50 bed centres have 24/7 doctors onsite that craft personalised care plans for any type of specialisation in an infection-safe setting. These patients are cared for in a proprietary technology-enabled environment that fosters collaboration between skilled nurses and expert rehab professionals such as physiotherapists, occupational, respiratory and speech swallow therapists, dietitians and clinical psychologists,” said Antra Bhargava, CEO, SuVitas, now part of HCAH SuVitas.
“Our comprehensive and holistic programs have resulted in an exceptional pedigree of over 3,000 recoveries. Of which, about 80% are the most complex cases, such as neurorehabilitation. We are also delighted to have helped over 150+ post-COVID patients recover to full daily life independence. We differ from tertiary care centres that should be focused primarily on saving lives. Our goal is to enhance the quality of life by delivering sustainable recoveries and reduce hospital readmissions, mortality and prevent long term disabilities,” added Antra.
Explaining the Expert Clinicians point of view on Transition care, Dr Pradeep Rangappa, National VP, ISCCM, said, “Being a member of Karnataka Government task force during COVID times, I had first-hand experience how transition care can be a solution when there is shortage of beds. Almost 25-30% of COVID patients have lingering health issues, which can be easily managed at a transition care facility. Now, not only in COVID but transition care is a reliable companion in many other illnesses in the road to complete recovery.”
“The Transition Care industry in the US has been around for over 3 decades and is seen as an essential component of the healthcare continuum. While the industry is largely payor led in America, the rationale for this is to reduce patient cost and improve outcomes – a model that it is heartening to see India adopt under the HCAH SuVitas leadership. It is also undeniable that the prevalence of these centres has supported our work during the COVID pandemic and that without them countless more lives would have been lost.” said Mr Raymond L Thivierge, Chief Strategy Officer, Sava Senior Care Administrative Services LLC. Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US.
“The recovery rate of the patients who took Home and Transition during COVID 2.0 was 97%. And the second spell of COVID has also taught us a lesson that the care hospital out of the hospital is the need of the hour. We provide service outside of the hospitals. To fill the gap of the fundamental challenges that India’s healthcare delivery system has, the combination of Home Care and Transition care is the ideal solution.” says Dr Gaurav Thukral, COO, HCAH.