Hospitals offer innovative hospital-at-home models

Many hospitals are experimenting with acute care at-home programs, focused on treating patients at home instead of in a hospital. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services developed the model a decade ago, and it gained popularity during the pandemic. Some hospitals use their own nurses for home visits, while others partner with home health or mobile integrated health programs. Some programs integrate pharmacists, physical rehab and health and wellness services to address the root causes of poor health. Several analysts predict that as the pandemic recedes, hospitals will take back inpatient services, causing the model to shift toward post-acute care, including rehabilitation and chronic care management. (HealthLeaders Media article, 7/11/23)