COVID-19: Helping Create Bed Capacity

Update: April 30, 2020

Expanding on a recently launched strategy of Coram, the company’s infusion care business, we are working with Piedmont Healthcare in Georgia to support their solutions for increasing hospital bed capacity to help transition eligible IV-therapy patients to home-based nursing care in response to COVID-19. Coram can deliver a clinically appropriate in-home care setting, which can be the safest place for patients recovering from a range of illnesses during this time by helping to minimize their risk of contracting COVID-19.

Our Coram model allows us to deploy clinical teams where the need is greatest, and we are shifting resources to support Piedmont Healthcare as a critical part of their solution to build and maintain hospital bed capacity for treating the critically ill impacted by the virus.
Sree Chaguturu, M.D.,
Chief Medical Officer of CVS Caremark and CVS Specialty.

Original article: April 17, 2020

There is a nationwide shortage of hospital beds because of the coronavirus pandemic. In California, the state is working to add 50,000 hospital beds for anticipated COVID-19 patients.

We are working with hospitals and providers, including UCLA Health, to support solutions for creating much-needed hospital bed capacity during the pandemic. Coram, a CVS Health company, has enhanced its existing home infusion capacity and capabilities to help transition eligible IV-therapy patients to home-based care. This includes enhanced clinical monitoring, virtual support, and oversight through telehealth to complement existing personalized in-home support, coordination, and administration of medications and supplies. 

Amid this unprecedented public health challenge, home can be the safest place for patients recovering from a range of illnesses and can also help minimize their risk of contracting COVID-19.

We are able to create a clinically appropriate and safe in-home care setting, so hospitals can focus on treating those impacted by COVID-19.
Sree Chaguturu M.D.
Chief Medical Officer of CVS Caremark and CVS Specialty

Coram is working with UCLA Health to identify and begin transitioning stable patients to home-based nursing care. Patients with a range of conditions that may require infusion therapy, including hydration and nutritional support, anti-infectives and/or several specialty medications for chronic condition management, will be considered. Once home, Coram’s specialized nurses will provide and coordinate a range of care, including daily visits and monitoring, medication administration, IV catheter line care, lab draws, and educational support via telehealth. 

Unprecedented challenges require innovative thinking and partnership as well as swift action. We’re deploying our clinical teams where the need is greatest, and our Coram nurses are doing an incredible job to help alleviate pressure on hospital capacity in some of the hardest-hit areas, including Los Angeles.
Prem Shah
Executive Vice President of CVS Specialty and Product Innovation.

Coram is scaling this approach nationwide in other markets with high rates of COVID-19, and also working with home health agencies to enable care for patients with high acuity needs that may require additional clinical oversight and monitoring. 

This article was originally published on April 17 and updated on April 30.