Distributed Care

“Distributed care” is the term used to describe the process of taking medical care to patients instead of patients having to go to doctors’ offices.

According to Phillips, in some instances, distributed care is given in the form of Telehealth - where patients and caregivers communicate via electronic devices.

In other instances, according to Orion Health, distributed care is home-based and focuses on providing hospital level care in patients’ homes as well as providing services to monitor potentially serious illnesses.

Science teacher Carol Taylor particularly draws a connection between distributed care and the elderly.

“I think that is a smart use of our dollars in the health care system,” Taylor said. “A lot of elderly people do need to be checked up on regularly, so having nurses come to the home and check on these people is a great thing.”

Even though it has existed for numerous years, distributed health care — particularly the “telehealth” aspect — grew during COVID and continues to be used.

Because of shelter-in-place requirements and social distancing, several of the barriers that previously existed with distributed care began to crumble during COVID, according to Matt Cohlmia, Executive Director of Digital Strategy at Providence Health.

Some believe distributed care is one of the first steps toward fixing the “sick-care” system that prevails in American health care. While the United States has some medical advancements superior to those of other nations, the current distribution of the services available are not equitable, comprehensive, or cost-effective, according to Physicians for a National Health Program.

This is where distributed care may come in.

According to Orion Health, moving services into a person’s home gives distributed healthcare the potential to better healthcare quality, reduce costs that may result from in-hospital visits, and improve the overall experience for the people who receive the care.