Mohammad is a lively 70-year-old small business owner who runs a bicycle workshop adjacent to his home. In May, he had to be transported by ambulance to the emergency department at St. Goran's Hospital after attempting to lift a heavy load in his bicycle workshop. He describes how his entire back seized up, and he experienced excruciating pain. Once in the emergency room, it was determined that the infection had occurred due to his pacemaker, which was implanted in 2021. He was admitted to the infectious diseases ward and received intravenous antibiotic treatment. Subsequently, Mohammad was offered a place on the virtual ward in June 2023, where he underwent treatment for endocarditis, inflammation of the heart valve.
Mohammad describes the month in the hospital as one of the worst in his life. He felt depressed and hated being so confined to the hospital bed. According to him, the hospital environment negatively affected his mental well-being. After about a month, when Mohammad's condition was assessed to be sufficiently stable, he was offered the option of transitioning to in-home care.
"Many who were there were so ill, which made me feel even sicker. I couldn't compare myself to the others; they were much older and less energetic," Mohammad recounts.
Mohammad's treatment continued at home, where he received antibiotics via injection and a PICC line (a special access for administering intravenous medication) four times a day at 06:00 am, 12:00am, 06:00pm, and 12:00pm. During the treatment, Mohammad had digital contact with healthcare professionals and received physical home visits from hospital staff with each injection. Mohammad was also provided with hardware to measure his vital parameters, such as pulse and blood pressure, which hospital personnel continuously monitored from the central command center at St. Goran's Hospital.
"Many who were there were so ill, which made me feel even sicker. I couldn't compare myself to the others; they were much older and less energetic," Mohammad recounts.
Mohammad's treatment continued at home, where he received antibiotics via injection and a PICC line (a special access for administering intravenous medication) four times a day at 06:00 am, 12:00am, 06:00pm, and 12:00pm. During the treatment, Mohammad had digital contact with healthcare professionals and received physical home visits from hospital staff with each injection. Mohammad was also provided with hardware to measure his vital parameters, such as pulse and blood pressure, which hospital personnel continuously monitored from the central command center at St. Goran's Hospital.
Mohammad expressed that the virtual ward allowed him to work and continue with his personal interests. He operates a bicycle workshop on the ground floor of his residence, and it was very gratifying to receive treatment at home, enabling him to partially continue his business. Apart from his job, virtual care allowed Mohammad to contribute as a referee on the football field, one of his significant life interests.
"I also put up a sign in my workshop when I was back so that my customers knew I was at home. June is the peak season for bicycle repairs, so there were many customers who needed help," Mohammad further explains.
