WINTER PARK, Florida—AdventHealth, a health care services provider, announced the launch of a hospital at home program that aims to provide its Central Florida patients with hospital-level acute health care in their homes. The program, which launched at AdventHealth Winter Park, Florida, aims to enable patients who would have required an inpatient stay to receive care at home.
“We know people want to heal at home, and now the technology exists to allow that to happen for more people,” said Maura Nazario, VP of clinical operations for AdventHealth. “Research shows that being in a familiar environment, surrounded by family can be helpful for the healing process for many people. By bringing the same whole-person care found in our hospitals to your home, we can offer our patients a more comfortable and personalized healing experience increasing the patient’s autonomy.”
The company said hospital at home patients will be able to receive multiple daily in-person visits from a nurse or paramedic, along with virtual video visits with medical providers using an electronic device. Additionally, patients accepted into the program will be provided a computer tablet for video visits with their nurses and physicians, a telephone that connects directly to their care team, a personal emergency response bracelet, vital signs monitoring devices and a backup power supply. The company said if patients experience an emergency, the hospital at home team will immediately contact paramedics.
“With the advancement of technology, a significant number of services we offer in an inpatient setting can be provided with the same level of quality at home,” said Jennifer Keehbauch, chief medical officer at AdventHealth Winter Park. “Conditions like congestive heart failure, COPD exacerbations, uncontrolled diabetes, along with people needing IV antibiotics for conditions like skin and bone infections, and more can all be treated at home with a higher level of patient satisfaction.”