Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 27, 2025
Efficient SARS-CoV-2 Quantitative Reverse Transcriptase PCR Saliva Diagnostic Strategy utilizing Open-Source Pipetting Robots
Published on: February 11, 2022
Use of Hotels as a Disposition Alternative to Hospital Admission for Undomiciled Patients Undergoing SARS-CoV-2
Lucia C Lin1, Brendan B McIntyre1, Kaitlin McIntyre2
1University of California San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, California.
Insights
Project Roomkey provided hotel rooms as a safe alternative for homeless patients with COVID-19, reducing hospital admissions. This strategy can be considered for managing other infectious diseases in this vulnerable population.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Disease Management
- Health Services Research
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted challenges for homeless populations facing barriers to social distancing and isolation.
- Project Roomkey in California offered non-congregate shelter in hotels for quarantining individuals experiencing homelessness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of hotel rooms as a safe alternative to hospital admission for homeless patients testing positive for SARS-CoV-2.
- To analyze patient outcomes, including emergency department visits and hospital admissions, after discharge to hotel accommodations.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective observational study involving chart review of patients discharged to hotels from March 2020 to December 2021.
- Data collected included demographics, index visit details, emergency department (ED) visits pre- and post-discharge, admission rates, and mortality.
Main Results:
- Out of 2,015 tested homeless patients, 83 were discharged to hotels; 40 (48.2%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
- Two patients returned to the ED within 7 days, 10 within 30 days; two required subsequent admission for COVID-19 pneumonia.
- No deaths were recorded within the 30-day follow-up period.
Conclusions:
- Hotel accommodations provided a safe alternative to hospital admission for homeless individuals with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
- This model of care can be considered for managing other transmissible diseases requiring isolation in the homeless population.
Introduction:
The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented various unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems globally, prompting society to adopt new preventative strategies to curb spread of the disease. Those experiencing homelessness have been particularly impacted because of barriers to practicing social distancing, inability to isolate, and poor access to care. Project Roomkey was established in California as a statewide measure to provide non-congregate shelter options for individuals experiencing homelessness to properly quarantine. On goal in this study was to analyze the effectiveness of hotel rooms as a safe disposition alternative to hospital admission for patients experiencing homelessness and who were also positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Methods:
This was a retrospective, observational study that included chart review of patients who were discharged to the hotel from March 2020-December 2021. We recorded demographic information, index visit details, number of emergency department (ED) visits both a month prior to and following the index visit, admission rates, and number of deaths.
Results:
During this 21-month study period, a total of 2,015 patients who identified as undomiciled were tested for SARS-COV-2 in the ED for various reasons. Of those patients, 83 were discharged from the ED to the hotel. Of the 83 patients, 40 (48.2%) ultimately tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during their index visit. Two patients returned to the ED within seven days with COVID-19-related symptoms, and 10 patients within 30 days. Two patients required subsequent admission with COVID-19 pneumonia. No deaths were recorded within the 30-day follow-up period.
Conclusion:
The availability of a hotel served as a safe alternative to hospital admission for patients experiencing homelessness and who were either suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19. It is reasonable to consider similar measures in the management of other transmissible diseases for patients experiencing homelessness who require isolation.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Hospitals-I
00:59Hospitals-II
Nurses that work in...
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
01:29Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Long-Term Care Facilities
01:11Secondary Healthcare System
01:19Restorative Care