ST. PETER HOSPITAL – Providence St. Peter Hospital launched the first Hospital at Home program for the Providence system in August 2021. Jan. 3, the team cared for their 500th patient -- Bill Cullen, who spent time in the hospital before being able to go home to finish his antibiotics.
Hospital at Home not only increases patient satisfaction but is a critical piece in the throughput initiative at St. Peter.
"Recognizing patients who fit the criteria for Hospital at Home, ultimately leads to freeing up hospital beds quicker, and helping decrease our length of stay," said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Melissa Grant. "If you notice a patient who might be right for the program, reach out to the Hospital at Home team to engage them and the patient."
It worked great for the Cullen family.
"Bill was in the hospital for 16 days in December so when the second hospitalization happened, he really didn't want to be in the hospital again" his wife of 63 years, Joan, said. "Sleeping through the night in the hospital is difficult because of all the interruptions. When Hospital at Home became an option, it felt like a lifesaver and if we needed anything, we had a number to call which was very assuring."
By providing these services at home, we've seen faster recovery times and increased patient satisfaction scores.
"Our patients and their families have expressed that receiving care at home offers them comfort and a sense of connection during the vulnerable experience of needing hospital care," said Pita Nims, director of Clinical Operations. "We cannot thank our teams enough for their tireless efforts to bring this program to fruition. Their innovation and forward thinking have helped many patients in our community and increased capacity for those who need to be cared for within the hospital."
How it works
The innovative Hospital at Home program delivers all the acute services needed to fulfill a patient’s care plan in their home setting. Patients meeting inpatient criteria who reside within 30 minutes of the hospital and have qualifying clinical presentations and social supports are given the option to be admitted home as the place of service, rather than a room in the hospital. Patients are provided a patient monitoring system with Bluetooth enabled peripherals to monitor temperature, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and weights as well as a tablet to interface with a 24-hour nurse and physician command center.
Patients are cared for by both a virtual MD and RN team, and a team of in-home clinicians during their stay. Multiple safety protocols are put in place to ensure 24/7 clinical oversight and support for escalation of care back to the hospital if necessary.