BOSTON—Mass General Brigham (MGB), a not-for-profit integrated health care system, has announced that it has collaborated with its Ariadne Labs, a joint center for health systems innovation at Brigham, and the New England Center and Home for Veterans (NECHV), a service provider for former military service men and women, to launch a home hospital program for veterans experiencing homelessness. The program intends to transform acute care for patients experiencing homelessness.
“The home hospital care model offers an opportunity to promote health equity,” said David Levine, clinical director for research and development at Mass General Brigham’s Healthcare at Home. “By bringing high-quality care directly to veterans experiencing homelessness—a historically marginalized population facing significant barriers—we can ensure they receive the necessary care and support, ultimately transforming their health outcomes and bridging the gap in care access. This program will help inform future implementation practices for providing care to this population.”
The MGB home hospital program offers patients comprehensive treatments that involve at least two daily in-home visits from a paramedic or nurse and at least one daily visit (virtual or in-person) from a physician or advanced practice provider. The company said its patients will have access to its 24/7 remote monitoring platform that tracks vital signs and facilitates continuous communication with their clinical team. This approach seeks to ensure patients receive necessary care they need, as well as reduce hospital readmissions and improve physical activity.
“The New England Center and Home for Veterans is pleased to partner with Mass General Brigham and Ariadne Labs to make home hospital services available to our Safe Haven residents,” said Andy McCawley, president and CEO of NECHV. “Those in our Safe Haven program are the most vulnerable and challenged veterans we serve. The comprehensive on-site care offered by the Home Hospital program will help prevent the need for hospitalization and maintain their physical well-being.”
Eligible residents of NECHV’s Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Safe Haven, which provides onsite support services for veterans with chronic medical or behavioral health conditions, will have access to hospital-level care from trusted providers in their Safe Haven residence. The home hospital program will seek to address the gap in homeless patient care by allowing patients to receive medical care while retaining their NECHV benefits.
