Preventing Acute Care Hospital Readmissions Through the Use of a Virtual Ward

The Canadian healthcare system is facing growing challenges due to increasingly complex patient cases and the lack of a truly integrated healthcare system. As a result, a rising problem has been the high rate of readmission to hospital within 30 days of discharge. Readmissions are costly, frustrating for care providers, and most importantly, are an indication of poor patient health outcomes. This paper will discuss the Virtual Ward and highlight how it intends to be a clinically and financially effective solution in reducing readmissions. The Virtual Ward functions by transporting key components of hospital care into the community, providing patients with the necessary level of ongoing support without occupying hospital resources. Patients are 'admitted' to the Virtual Ward, and are then cared for by a team who assess the patient on a regular basis. The care team is readily accessible around the clock, while the patient remains at home. Currently, the Virtual Ward is being piloted in Toronto and undergoing a randomized control trial (RCT) for evaluation purposes. If results of the RCT support the Virtual Ward as a viable solution in reducing readmissions, it poses to be a powerful tool with the potential to be implemented across the country. Not only does the Virtual Ward play a key role in improving patient health outcomes while reducing costs, but it represents a new philosophy of health management and addresses the need for the Canadian healthcare system to radically change how it functions systematically.