Fatima Muhammad Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Pinpointing the locations of people in need of home-based medical services and finding women willing to work with medical teams and go into patients' homes are two of the challenges facing the national medical home care program, said the head of Jeddah Health Affairs. Sami Badawood told Saudi Gazette: “The problem is that there are women patients who need to be trained and cared for by female employees, but many of them fear going into their homes, especially if they are in unsafe areas.” Badawood said they do not lack people willing to work for the program and added that they tend to give training to nurses and medical workers who join the program. The program, said Badawood, aims to reduce the pressure on government hospitals and hopes to free up beds at hospitals for more critical cases. The program, which started four years ago, has served patients of different ages. Badawood said: “The majority of patients are elderly but we also have children and people with psychological disorders.” Badawood explained that if 2,000 patients are being treated in their homes then that would free up beds and make them available for emergency cases in four hospitals if each hospital has 500 beds. “That is the goal and aim of this program and no matter what we spend on it, the scheme is worth it. “We also provide all medical equipment and beds for such patients and the medical team provides regular visits to check on patients.” As of this year there are 3,000 registered patients who are being served by the home medical care program here in Jeddah. To date, medical teams have made over 11,000 visits to patients. Badawood was speaking at the first home medical care forum held at King Fahd Hospital's research and study center. The two-day event highlights home medical care issues, including techniques to treat patients at home and taking care of their diet, rehabilitation and medical therapy.
