More data needed on hospital-at-home programs

More research is needed to determine the viability of hospital-at-home programs, including their cost, staffing metrics and how patients and caregivers interact with the program, says Lee Fleisher, MD, senior advisor to the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Health Program and senior fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. In a HealthLeaders Media article, he further notes research should explore barriers for individuals from diverse populations. Some health systems are finding hospital-at-home programs beneficial for programs focused on remote patient monitoring or care for patients with chronic conditions. Sachin Jain, MD, MBA, president and CEO, SCAN Health Plan in Los Angeles, says the model may work best for skilled nursing facilities. Such programs could improve clinical outcomes for patients transferred to SNFs by offering additional hospital support and resources.