MatHOME will allow pregnant women to receive maternity care from the comfort of their home
MatHOME, the maternity arm of the Women’s and Newborn Services Hospital In The Home SEED funded project will officially commence on Monday 30 January.
The pilot initiative comes after the launch of the neonatal arm of the project (NeoHOME) in 2022 and aims to measure the success of a hospital in the home model of care within maternity.
MatHOME will support selected antenatal inpatients and outpatients within RBWH. Based on outcomes seen in the RBWH Hospital in the Home Service and a maternity hospital in the home trial implemented at the Gold Coast University Hospital, the initiative is anticipated to support a positive patient and family experience, improve patient flow through a reduction in occupied hospital bed/cot days and hospital avoidance, and demonstrate cost efficiencies.
This initiative aligns with Metro North Health’s strategic goal to achieve an effective, integrated and sustainable out-of-hospital care model and reduce avoidable demand for hospital services.
It will support the Safety and Quality Strategy 2019 – 2023, with the number one priority to provide safe, high-quality healthcare, with the patient as a partner in their own care.
RBWH Maternity Service Improvement Clinical Nurse/Midwifery Consultant Jeanette Tyler said the primary goal of the project is to demonstrate that hospital in the home services are safe and feasible for maternity and neonatology care.
“We want to ensure MatHOME adds value to the patient and family experience whilst providing top-tier maternity care from the comfort of their home,” Jeanette said.
“The pilot will run for four months with robust monitoring and evaluation of outcomes. ”
The NeoHOME program, which has now been running for more than four months, has received glowing feedback from families. Much of the feedback mentions that the parents’ mental health has improved significantly and that the experience and opportunity to be at home with their baby is invaluable.
“This model of care is amazing and has made the last couple of weeks a lot less stressful and exhausting for our family. Being able to care for and feed our daughters at home with the support and guidance from the hospital has been incredible. We also felt very supported by the nurses who seemed genuinely invested to see us succeed.”
“Every member of the NeoHOME team was knowledgeable, supportive and helpful. Transition from hospital to home was stress free and easy. I will be forever grateful for the support I received in such a difficult time”