Quro Medical, a South African healthcare company founded in 2020, is at the forefront of this innovation. Led by Dr Vuyane Mhlomi, Quro Medical’s Hospital at Home service provides active medical treatment to patients in their own homes, reducing the need for traditional hospital admissions.
Speaking at the Hospital Show, Dr Mhlomi discussed the limitations of conventional hospital systems and the importance of alternative healthcare delivery models to enhance patient outcomes. While hospitals remain essential for acute and specialised care, they also face inherent challenges, including:
Dr Mhlomi referenced data indicating that approximately one in seven patients entering South African hospitals are at high risk of acquiring a hospital-associated infection. He also cited research showing that healthcare costs were 52% lower when acutely ill patients received care at home instead of in a hospital setting.
“Rather than replacing hospitals, innovative home-based and virtual care models, such as hospital at home, enhance and extend traditional healthcare's reach, ensuring patients receive the right care in the right setting while optimising resources across the system,” Dr Mhlomi said.
Quro Medical has demonstrated the effectiveness of the Hospital at Home model through measurable outcomes:
Quro Medical has secured partnerships with major medical aid providers, ensuring that its services are fully covered under hospital benefits. The company operates in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria, Durban, Gqeberha, Bloemfontein, and surrounding areas.
Patients enrolled in Quro Medical’s Hospital at Home programmme receive:
A key innovation is the use of wireless patient monitoring technology, which tracks vital signs such as heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, ECG, and oxygen saturation and many more in real time.
The Hospital at Home model provides several advantages over traditional hospital stays:
Dr Mhlomi emphasised the urgent need for transformation in healthcare delivery. Rising costs, an ageing population, and increasing non-communicable diseases are placing unprecedented pressure on hospital systems. “Hospitalisation is not only expensive but also carries unintended clinical risks, such as delirium, functional decline, and antibiotic-resistant infections,” he said. “Globally, healthcare systems are moving toward home-based models to alleviate strain on hospitals while maintaining high-quality patient care.”
With the continued expansion of Hospital at Home services in South Africa and globally, Quro Medical is playing a pivotal role in redefining how healthcare is delivered.
