The need to care for older patients with chronic illnesses in a more human-centred and effective way inspired this good clinical practice at the Almanzor Aguinaga Asenjo National Hospital (Hospital Nacional Almanzor Aguinaga Asenjo), which is part of the Lambayeque Health Care Network (Red Prestacional Lambayeque) and Peru’s EsSalud - Social Health Insurance Institute (EsSalud - Seguro Social de Salud).
To achieve this goal, we implemented a new care model that uses disruptive innovation to transform the traditional care model for older patients. A multidisciplinary team was put together alongside professionals from the geriatrics service. This team provides medical care using telemedicine and has trained the patients’ relatives through a self-managed “caregivers’ school”. The implementation of the project led to a reduction in the number of emergency care visits for older patients.
Finally, the care model has been so successful that the Municipality of Chiclayo joined the project and expanded the scope of the “caregivers’ school” in the city of Chiclayo.