Home‐visit medical care for COVID‐19 patients

Abstract

Dear Editor, As the number of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is increasing in Japan, we are facing a shortage of inpatient beds. [...]the patients with mild symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, or fatigue) are asked to stay at home. The home‐visit medical care team is composed of a doctor and several staff members of the regional public health‐care center. The home‐visit medical care team also provides precise information about the disease and counsels the patients and families about their concerns regarding the patient’s daily care, possibility of transmission within the household, and mental stress.2 To address these concerns, we have also composed and distributed documents containing essential information about COVID‐19. Because the occupancy of hospital beds for COVID‐19 patients in Chiba prefecture is now over 200%, more than half of the patients remain at home.3 We need to provide care to these patients, in addition to the ones who are hospitalized.