Shahal Medical Service Brings Emergency Care Directly to Patients' Homes in Israel

In many Israeli households, sudden health issues such as unstable blood pressure, shortness of breath, or falls often prompt urgent decisions about whether to call an ambulance or rush to the emergency room. Shahal, a medical service provider, offers a comprehensive remote healthcare system designed to deliver medical assistance directly to patients' homes, reducing unnecessary hospital visits. This service includes a 24/7 medical call center staffed by trained doctors and nurses who have access to each subscriber's updated medical records, enabling informed and personalized care.

Shahal equips patients with FDA-approved medical devices for home use, such as a full 12-lead ECG and connected blood pressure monitors that transmit real-time data to the call center. Subscribers also have access to a cellular distress system and an app that shares their location with medical staff if needed. This integrated approach allows many medical issues to be assessed and managed remotely without leaving home.

When necessary, Shahal dispatches mobile intensive care units staffed by a doctor and paramedic to the patient's residence. According to Shahal, over half of these cases result in patients being treated at home without hospital admission. Overall, more than 80% of medical calls to the center are resolved remotely, with only a minimal percentage requiring emergency room transfer.

The service covers a broad range of medical situations beyond cardiac issues, including falls, suspected hip fractures, strokes, blood pressure or diabetes imbalances, heart failure, arrhythmias, respiratory distress, and anxiety attacks. In non-medical emergencies, Shahal can also coordinate police or fire services. When hospital care is essential, Shahal ensures patients are safely transported with their medical information to facilitate ongoing treatment.

Shahal emphasizes that their system offers patients and families a crucial alternative to immediate hospital visits, providing professional evaluation and care at home whenever possible, and only resorting to emergency room admission when absolutely necessary.