{
  "abstract": "Introduction St Vincent’s University Hospital has recently implemented a ‘Hospital in the Home’ model through the establishment of a Virtual Ward (VW). This initiative aims to reduce pressure on beds while mitigating hospital-associated complications such as deconditioning, nosocomial infections, delirium, and social isolation. Once patients’ acute inpatient needs are addressed, they are discharged to the VW, where care continues at home. Patients receive daily nurse-led phone reviews, and daily monitoring of vital signs, weight, and ECGs (via Kardia devices).Methods We conducted a retrospective observational study comparing baseline demographics, length of stay, and unplanned rehospitalisation rates among patients with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF) managed on VW Pathway versus those treated solely via Physical Hospital Only (PHO) pathway.Results From 1st July 2024 to 31st March 2025, 46 ADHF patients were managed via the VW. The comparator group comprised 105 newly enrolled Heart Failure Unit patients managed via PHO during the same period. Baseline characteristics are detailed in table 1. Median VW stay was 5 days. Total hospitalisation duration was not significantly different between groups (VW: 15.1 ± 16.5 days vs PHO: 12.1 ± 10.2 days; p = 0.187). However, physical hospital bed days were significantly lower for VW patients (7.5 ± 10.0 days vs 12.1 ± 10.2 days; p = 0.011). Unplanned rehospitalisation rates—stratified by Heart Failure (HF), non-HF cardiovascular (CV), and non-CV causes at one and three months—were low in both groups (table 1). Of the VW cohort, 3 patients (6.5%) were re-admitted from the virtual ward due to worsening ADHF. Across both cohorts, there were 7 deaths during the 3-month follow-up period, including 1 in the VW group. These findings support the Virtual Ward as a feasible and safe alternative for the inpatient management of ADHF, with the potential to reduce physical hospital resource use without compromising patient outcomes.Abstract 13 Table 1Baseline characteristics, hospital stay, and outcomes",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "L Maher"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "E O’Donoghue"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "E Brennan"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "JA Aletin"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "A Halpin"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "C Mahon"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "D McCaffrey"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "M Barrett"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "K McDonald"
    }
  ],
  "title": "13 Comparison of baseline demographics, length of stay, and rehospitalisation rates in acute decompensated heart failure patients managed via the virtual ward pathway versus traditional inpatient care at St Vincent’s university hospital",
  "uid": "dfdfa59d-e337-521a-bffe-a6845f92e6a9"
}