Acute hospital care does not always provide the ideal care environment for older adults. Delirium, functional decline, and other adverse events occur frequently and can lead to a downward spiral of dependency. Older patients frequently acquire additional infections or complications during a hospital stay, and the culture of care is often at odds with the wishes of patients. In short, there is no place like home!
is an innovative health care model that provides hospital-level care in a patient’s home as a full substitute for acute hospital care. The program was developed by researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and successfully tested in a National Demonstration and Evaluation Study.
Typically, the program is offered to patients who require hospital admission for certain diseases, such as community-acquired pneumonia, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cellulitis. Patients who meet specific medical eligibility criteria and agree to participate receive hospital-level care, including diagnostic tests and treatment therapies from doctors and nurses in their own home
Hospital at Home is in practice at numerous sites throughout the country, and is being adopted by health systems, home care providers and managed care programs as a new tool to cost-effectively treat acutely ill older adults, while improving patient safety and satisfaction.
The Hospital at Home consulting team can provide expertise and technical assistance to help your institution evaluate whether to adopt the program as well as to support your implementation and reduce start up timelines. To determine your site’s readiness and to learn more about the model and related tools, click here.
is an innovative health care model that provides hospital-level care in a patient’s home as a full substitute for acute hospital care. The program was developed by researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and successfully tested in a 
