March 3, 2023
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center recently launched an innovative new approach to help patients get the hospital-level care they need in the place they most want to be – home.
The new Hospital Care at Home program works with DispatchHealth to deliver inpatient hospital services to Wexner Medical Center patients in the patient’s home. In places across the country where this option exists, people are happier with their care, have fewer complications and recover better than comparable patients who stayed in the hospital.
“We are committed to providing continuum of care options to serve our patients where they want to be served,” said Rachit Thariani, chief administrative officer for the Post-Acute and Home-Based Care Division at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. “If they would rather receive hospital-level care in the comfort of their home, we want to be able to provide that option for them. This also allows us to free up inpatient capacity for patients who most need to be in the hospital.”
Patients in Hospital Care at Home have a specialized care team and receive a vital-sign monitor and digital tablet for 24/7 communication access to their care team. Additional services, such as medication administration, meals and rehabilitation, are also provided in the patient’s home as needed. If at any time the care team determines the patient should return to the hospital, they make those arrangements.
Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and DispatchHealth collaborate through a multidisciplinary team consisting of:
• Physician – A physician credentialed by Ohio State Wexner Medical Center leads the in-home care team, oversees the patient’s care plan and reviews progress with an advanced practice provider (APP) each day.
• Advanced Practice Provider – A physician assistant or advanced practice nurse from DispatchHealth and credentialed by Ohio State visits the patient and discusses care and progress with the physician overseeing the patient’s care.
• Nurses – Registered nurses visit the patient in-person to provide treatment, document progress and address any concerns during the period in-patient hospital care would otherwise be provided.
• Other specialty members – Other services, from physical therapy to medical equipment and pharmacy, are provided by Ohio State Wexner Medical Center staff and its network of providers and are coordinated as required.
• 24/7 connection – Patients in the Hospital Care at Home program receive 24/7 nursing support to monitor vital signs and answer questions at any time through a virtual care monitoring center which is continually staffed by registered nurses with physician support.
• Post-discharge care coordination – Upon completion of the in-home phase aligning with in-patient hospital care, patients receive 15 days of post-discharge transitional care and care coordination. During this time, DispatchHealth provides remote patient monitoring, 24/7 virtual care support, discharge planning, care coordination with the patient’s primary care team and facilitation of social needs.
“Nearly two years ago we kicked off our relationship with Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, bringing high-acuity care directly to the comfort of patients’ homes,” said Dr. Mark Prather, chief executive officer and co-founder of DispatchHealth. “We’ve seen great success as we have collectively improved access to care while decreasing medical costs. We are pleased to expand our clinical collaboration by bringing DispatchHealth’s deep expertise in community alternatives to hospitalization to patients in Columbus.”
Currently, Hospital Care at Home is available for Medicare patients who are receiving care in an Ohio State emergency department or inpatient unit. The program does not include those receiving cancer care in The James, and geographically serves most of Franklin County and its surrounding counties.
Learn more about Ohio State’s home-based care options.
###
Media Contact: Mary Ellen Fiorino, Wexner Medical Center Media Relations, Mary.Fiorino@osumc.edu
The new Hospital Care at Home program works with DispatchHealth to deliver inpatient hospital services to Wexner Medical Center patients in the patient’s home. In places across the country where this option exists, people are happier with their care, have fewer complications and recover better than comparable patients who stayed in the hospital.
“We are committed to providing continuum of care options to serve our patients where they want to be served,” said Rachit Thariani, chief administrative officer for the Post-Acute and Home-Based Care Division at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. “If they would rather receive hospital-level care in the comfort of their home, we want to be able to provide that option for them. This also allows us to free up inpatient capacity for patients who most need to be in the hospital.”
Patients in Hospital Care at Home have a specialized care team and receive a vital-sign monitor and digital tablet for 24/7 communication access to their care team. Additional services, such as medication administration, meals and rehabilitation, are also provided in the patient’s home as needed. If at any time the care team determines the patient should return to the hospital, they make those arrangements.
Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and DispatchHealth collaborate through a multidisciplinary team consisting of:
• Physician – A physician credentialed by Ohio State Wexner Medical Center leads the in-home care team, oversees the patient’s care plan and reviews progress with an advanced practice provider (APP) each day.
• Advanced Practice Provider – A physician assistant or advanced practice nurse from DispatchHealth and credentialed by Ohio State visits the patient and discusses care and progress with the physician overseeing the patient’s care.
• Nurses – Registered nurses visit the patient in-person to provide treatment, document progress and address any concerns during the period in-patient hospital care would otherwise be provided.
• Other specialty members – Other services, from physical therapy to medical equipment and pharmacy, are provided by Ohio State Wexner Medical Center staff and its network of providers and are coordinated as required.
• 24/7 connection – Patients in the Hospital Care at Home program receive 24/7 nursing support to monitor vital signs and answer questions at any time through a virtual care monitoring center which is continually staffed by registered nurses with physician support.
• Post-discharge care coordination – Upon completion of the in-home phase aligning with in-patient hospital care, patients receive 15 days of post-discharge transitional care and care coordination. During this time, DispatchHealth provides remote patient monitoring, 24/7 virtual care support, discharge planning, care coordination with the patient’s primary care team and facilitation of social needs.
“Nearly two years ago we kicked off our relationship with Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, bringing high-acuity care directly to the comfort of patients’ homes,” said Dr. Mark Prather, chief executive officer and co-founder of DispatchHealth. “We’ve seen great success as we have collectively improved access to care while decreasing medical costs. We are pleased to expand our clinical collaboration by bringing DispatchHealth’s deep expertise in community alternatives to hospitalization to patients in Columbus.”
Currently, Hospital Care at Home is available for Medicare patients who are receiving care in an Ohio State emergency department or inpatient unit. The program does not include those receiving cancer care in The James, and geographically serves most of Franklin County and its surrounding counties.
Learn more about Ohio State’s home-based care options.
###
Media Contact: Mary Ellen Fiorino, Wexner Medical Center Media Relations, Mary.Fiorino@osumc.edu