Healthcare systems nationwide are expanding their use of hybrid and home-based care models by combining virtual visits with in-person services, utilizing remote monitoring technologies, and collaborating with home health providers to enhance accessibility and reduce costs. These innovative models are designed to enhance patient outcomes and address the growing demand for more convenient and personalized care.
Leaders from three different healthcare systems recently shared how they are maximizing hybrid and home-based care models during a virtual panel hosted by Bright Spots in Healthcare.
Providence, a West Coast-based health system, has developed an at-home care strategy that heavily relies on remote patient monitoring. Kate Baars, an executive director at the health system’s virtual care and digital health division, explained that Providence’s remote patient monitoring program focuses on patients with hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, congestive heart failure, and COPD. The program targets patients who are actively engaged with their primary care physicians and have specific clinical criteria that indicate a need for monitoring. Providence ensures that physicians recommend the program to their patients before enrollment, emphasizing that the program is an extension of their existing care.
The remote monitoring program at Providence has successfully prevented avoidable emergency department visits and improved clinical outcomes for patients with hypertension and congestive heart failure. The program has also led to cost savings by reducing acute care utilization and ambulatory visits.
OSF HealthCare in Illinois launched a digital hospital-at-home program during the pandemic, which combines technology and in-person care in patients’ homes. The program includes a 24/7 virtual command center staffed by nurses and in-home caregivers who provide hospital-level care services. Since its launch, the program has enrolled 700 patients and demonstrated high-quality care comparable to traditional hospital settings.
UMass Memorial Health in Massachusetts operates a mobile integrated health program that partners with EMS physicians and paramedics to provide in-home care to patients referred by primary care physicians or specialists. Unlike other mobile health programs that focus on urgent visits, UMass’ program integrates visits within the health system to ensure continuity of care. This approach has been successful in addressing urgent healthcare needs and preventing unnecessary emergency department visits. Fuimos capaces de ir a la casa del paciente, obtener algunas pruebas de laboratorio de punto de atención i-STAT, asegurarnos de que sus electrolitos y función renal estuvieran seguros, darle algunos fluidos, y luego trabajar de regreso con su médico de atención primaria para asegurarnos de que la atención de seguimiento apropiada se ejecutara para ese paciente”, comentó Broach.
Este es el tipo de problema que se puede tratar en casa, y los pacientes casi siempre prefieren su hogar a una habitación de hospital u oficina de atención urgente, señaló. También señaló que los hospitales “simplemente no tienen capacidad” para tratar a todos en el departamento de emergencias que tienen una enfermedad no urgente.
Desde su lanzamiento en 2021, el equipo de salud móvil de UMass ha completado más de 1,000 visitas, dijo Broach.
Una de las principales razones del éxito del programa es que UMass trabaja con especialistas individuales para crear “caminos a medida” que aborden las necesidades de los pacientes, afirmó.
“Trabajamos con el grupo de cirugía colorrectal para asegurarnos de que el cuidado de heridas y la hidratación sean buenos. Trabajamos con la división de geriatría para asegurarnos de que los pacientes recientemente dados de alta del hospital tengan los medicamentos correctos, el apoyo adecuado en el hogar, fisioterapia, terapia ocupacional, etc. – y en ese programa en particular, hemos visto una reducción del 60% en readmisiones en los primeros 30 días para los pacientes que forman parte de nuestro programa”, declaró Broach.
Foto: Kiwis, Getty Images