.png&w=256&q=75){kind=small}
What is Hospital at Home?
Date Updated: July 26, 2024
Written by:
Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a background in healthcare and technology. Her work has been published on websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, BetterHelp.com, Caring.com, and PayingforSeniorCare.com. She studied health science and public health at Boston University.
Both of Rachel’s grandmothers had very positive experiences in senior living communities, and Rachel saw firsthand the impact that kind, committed caregivers and community managers can have on seniors’ and their family members’ lives. With her work at Caring, Rachel hopes to help other families find communities, caregivers, and at-home products that benefit elderly loved ones and make life less stressful for family caregivers
Hospital at Home allows individuals to receive hospital-quality acute care in the comfort of their homes. The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine developed this treatment model in 1995 and conducted a 17-patient trial, which outlined basic eligibility criteria for older adults. The results showed improved safety, reduced costs and higher patient satisfaction.
Health care providers have since implemented or are currently developing a Hospital at Home program in many locations nationwide. This includes Veterans Administration hospitals, health care systems, home care services and community health organizations.
How Hospital at Home works
Medical staff use diagnostic criteria to determine if the patient is eligible for in-home acute care. If the patient meets the proper criteria and consents to the program, they’re transported home via ambulance or their personal vehicle. At home, they receive 24/7 nursing care for an initial period, followed by a physician’s assessment. The physician visits the person’s home at least once per day and is available around the clock for medical emergencies.
The individual can receive electrocardiograms, X-rays and other tests at home. They can also receive numerous treatments, including oxygen therapy, IV fluids and antibiotics. Brief hospital visits are available for complex diagnostic tests that can’t be performed at home, such as magnetic resonance imaging. Treatment duties return to the person’s primary care physician once acute care is no longer necessary.
Who is eligible for Hospital at Home care?
Hospital at Home is appropriate for older adults who need hospital-level care but are at low risk of serious complications. Clinicians assess patients for eligibility when they require hospitalization in an emergency department and meet illness-specific criteria. Eligible conditions include congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cellulitis and community-acquired pneumonia. Ineligible conditions include acute cardiac problems, insufficient oxygen levels and nontarget illnesses. The eligible patient must consent to the program before being transported home.