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Home hospital program: a pilot study
1Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
|June 12, 1999
Summary
Hospital care at home (Home Hospital) is safe and feasible for acutely ill older adults, showing comparable outcomes and high satisfaction. This pilot study found home hospital care to be cost-effective.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Health Services Research
- Acute Care Delivery
Background:
- Hospitalization for acutely ill older adults presents challenges in care delivery and cost.
- Alternative models of acute care are needed to improve patient experience and resource utilization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the safety and feasibility of a Home Hospital (HH) model for acute care.
- To evaluate clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and cost-effectiveness of HH.
Main Methods:
- Prospective case series design.
- Inclusion of community-dwelling individuals aged 65+ requiring acute hospital admission for conditions like pneumonia, heart failure, COPD, or cellulitis.
Main Results:
- Seventeen subjects were successfully treated in the Home Hospital (HH) setting.
- HH care demonstrated comparable clinical outcomes to traditional acute hospital care.
- Patients reported high satisfaction with HH, and associated charges were 60% lower than acute hospital care.
Conclusions:
- Home Hospital (HH) care is a safe, feasible, and highly satisfactory option for select acutely ill older adults.
- The HH model proves cost-effective compared to conventional acute hospitalization.
- This pilot study supports the potential of HH as a viable alternative for acute geriatric care.