HIMSS Conference Preview: Heather O’Sullivan on Keys to Scaling Hospital at Home

• Session Title: Creating Tomorrow’s Health: You’ve Built It, Now What? Scaling Hospital at Home
• Day/Time/Location: Wednesday, March 13 • 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Eastern Time; W204A

My joint presentation will address how health systems can scale up their Hospital at Home models and how Mass General Brigham has been able to unlock growth and progress toward our scale goals.

Mass General Brigham (MGB) has been at the forefront of revolutionizing healthcare through its Home Hospital service, a model that supports better health outcomes and patient experience, yet also lowers cost and significantly eases the strain on the healthcare system. With over 3,400 patients served since 2020, translating to 19,000 days of in-hospital care shifted to homes, MGB is setting a new standard in patient-centered care.

This innovative approach allows our patients to receive, from the comfort of their homes, the same care they would get if they were in one of our nationally renowned Academic Medical Centers. Our model is distinguished from traditional home care services by the expansion of access to acute care and 24/7 patient monitoring that places the patient at the center of care.

The benefits are multifold: improved functional status, reduced medication errors, enhanced patient and employee experience, and better health outcomes, among others. Additionally, research has shown lower mortality and readmission rates for patients, as well as an overall reduction of hospital costs, underlining the efficacy of the Home Hospital model. However, the continuation and expansion of this vital service hinges on legislative support. MGB is advocating for Congress to extend the Acute Hospital Care at Home initiative for five years, a move that would ensure the sustainability of Home Hospital and the tremendous benefits associated with it.

The Home Hospital model represents a critical step forward in addressing the nationwide capacity crisis plaguing healthcare systems. By increasing the number of patients cared for at home, MGB is improving patient and caregiver experiences, yet also contributing to the alleviation of physician and nurse burnout. This initiative showcases the potential of home-based care in transforming healthcare delivery, making it a compelling model for the future of healthcare.