Croydon has been using the Combined Predictive Model in its virtual wards project (see Telecare Aware item) whereby people identified by the model as having a very high risk of future hospitalisation are put on a ‘virtual ward’. They are provided with preventive care in their own homes by a multi-disciplinary team who use the systems, timetable and staffing of a hospital ward but without the physical building.
Admission to the virtual ward is determined solely by the output of the Combined Predictive Model. Patients’ risk scores are monitored over time and can be used to prompt the virtual ward staff to discharge patients when appropriate – and offer admission to a patient at higher risk.
Item from the Kings Fund site where you can download a Croydon case study.