A new app is helping care home residents avoid unnecessary hospital visits and stay healthier. The HealthCall Digital Care Homes app allows care staff to record residents’ vital signs—like blood pressure and temperature—when they feel unwell. This information is then sent to a team of clinicians at a community hub, who advise on the best treatment. Researchers supported by the NIHR Yorkshire and Humber Applied Research Collaboration (YH ARC) assessed the impact of the app on unplanned hospital care and the associated costs.
Over 440,000 people live in care homes across the UK, many of whom are frail or in poor health. Trips to the hospital can be stressful and risky for them, increasing the chances of infections, confusion, or falls. By catching health issues early, this app is helping to keep residents out of the hospital and closer to home.
The study included 8,702 residents in 118 care homes and found that using the app led to:
-25% fewer emergency hospital admissions
-11% fewer emergency department visits
- 11% shorter hospital stays
The app also saved the NHS money—around £57 per resident in 2018, increasing to £113 per resident by 2021. These savings could add up to £247 million a year if rolled out across the UK.
The app is already making a difference in care homes in the North East of England, but more studies are needed to confirm the long-term impact. For now, the results suggest that technology like this could improve care, save money, and keep residents out of the hospital—where they’re safest of all.
Please read the full English summary here (https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/alert/care-home-app-reduced-residents-hospital-admissions/).
The original research article can be accessed on the Journal of Age and Ageing website (https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afae004). For more information about HealthCall, visit the NHS website (https://nhshealthcall.co.uk/).
Care home app reduced residents’ hospital admissions
