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OPAT - IV Antibiotics at Home

Nobody wants to be in hospital unless they absolutely need to be. If avoiding a hospital stay or being let out early were available options most people would choose to receive their treatment at home.

OPAT- Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy


OPAT allows suitable patients on intravenous (IV) antibiotics to be discharged early from hospital and treated in their home or community setting by a team of specialist nurses.
There are 2 options available:

  1. A nurse will call to administer your IV antibiotic treatment. This is called H-OPAT
  2. You can opt to self-administer your IV antibiotic treatment. This is called S-OPAT

Clinical Governance

 
  • Patient remains under the care of the hospital consultant while receiving their IV antibiotic treatment at home.
  • Patients are called back for weekly review by hospital team.
  • Providers of the National OPAT Service


TCP Homecare and Fannin Health were awarded the contract to deliver the National OPAT Service.  TCP Homecare provide the nurse visits, drug dispensing, cold chain delivery, medical waste management and patient care reports.  Fannin Health provide the aseptically compounded antibiotics needed for the service.

Benefits of OPAT

 
  • It removes the stress of staying in hospital
  • Equivalent clinical outcomes
  • Promotes admission avoidance
  • Promotes early discharge from acute beds
  • Promotes antibiotic stewardship
  • Runs 7 days a week, 365 days a year
  • Treatment is provided close to family support
  • Reduces risk of patient acquiring a hospital infection
  • Patient sleeps and eats better at home
  • Allows patients return to work / normal routine
  • No charge for the patient

Success of The National OPAT Service

 

Since its introduction in Jan 2013 The HSE’s National OPAT Service has helped more than 3300 patients spend 42940 fewer days in hospital. (Figures based on data up to Sept 14)
Feedback from OPAT patients is overwhelmingly positive with over 98% of patients agreeing that they would accept the service again.

  • 92% of patients rated the overall quality of care as excellent and a further 6% rated it as good.
  • 96% of patients agree or strongly agree that OPAT treatment at home was preferable to being treated in hospital. 
  • Figures based on 130 patient survey responses)