In April, Cleveland Clinic launched the hospital care-at-home program in Vero Beach designed to care for acutely ill patients who would otherwise require admission to a physical hospital but choose to receive their hospital care in the comfort of their homes.
The Care At Home program is a first for Cleveland Clinic but part of a larger national movement. “Just a handful of Florida hospitals and a little more than 250 hospitals across the country are authorized to provide hospital care in a patient’s home,” says Richard Rothman, M.D., Chief Medical Operations Officer for Cleveland Clinic in Florida.
Patient eligibility for Cleveland Clinic’s program is based on a complete medical evaluation in either the Emergency Department or within one of the hospital’s inpatient units at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital. “Individuals who meet the criteria are offered the choice to receive hospital care at home or in a traditional hospital setting,” says Dr. Rothman.
Studies have shown that the hospital at home model can provide patients with similar or improved clinical outcomes, lower readmission rates, and fewer complications than traditional inpatient care. Surveys also demonstrate higher levels of patient and family member satisfaction than with traditional care.
Cleveland Clinic’s Care At Home program is staffed by highly experienced nurses and dedicated hospital medicine physicians, also called “virtual hospitalists.” A number of ancillary service providers and logistical support personnel round out the team. Patients and their family members are connected to the state-of-the-art Clinically Integrated Virtual Care (CIViC) Center around the clock and can speak with a caregiver immediately with the push of a button.
“We want to deliver a seamless, home-based hospital care experience that helps patients heal faster in the comfort of their home,” says Dr. Rothman.
