Hospital at Home Program Shows Promise in Early Patient Transfers Post Surgery

A recent study published in the Annals of Surgery found the feasibility and efficacy of Hospital at Home (HaH) enabled early transfer pathways for surgical patients. HaH was designed as a secure alternative to conventional hospitalization and extends acute care to patients within the comfort of their homes by utilizing a comprehensive range of hospital-level interventions.

The study spanned from November 2021 to May 2023 and enrolled 325 patients who underwent six different surgeries with a predefined early transfer pathway. These pathways were established based on various criteria such as clinical and hemodynamic stability, the absence of complications during surgery, and the presence of a caregiver.

The surgeries included a total of 141 bariatric surgeries, 85 kidney transplants, 45 thoracic surgeries, 37 cystectomies, 10 appendicectomies, and 7 ventral hernia repairs. The overall escalation of care during HaH was a minimal 7.3% with 30-day readmissions standing at 7%. The important thing to note is that the study reported zero mortality.

The protocols were developed to facilitate communication and collaboration between surgical services and HaH by ensuring the effective delivery of postoperative care within the home setting. An urgent escalation pathway was also put in place to address any unforeseen complications.

These findings highlighted that patients under HaH were transferred home three days earlier than the individuals following the traditional pathway. The total mean Length of Stay (LOS) was 8 days with the patients experiencing HaH saving a substantial 1,551 bed-days all together.

The findings of this research indicate a potential shift in postoperative care by emphasizing the benefits of early home transfer pathways through HaH.

Reference:

Ugarte, A., Bachero, I., Cucchiari, D., Sala, M., Pereta, I., Castells, E., Subirana, N., Loscos, A., García, L., Cardozo, C., Rico, V., García-Poutón, N., Torres, M., Lopera, C., Aldea, A., Suárez, A., Coloma, E., Seijas, N., Altés, J., & Nicolás, D. (2023). Effectiveness and Safety of Postoperative Hospital at Home for Surgical Patients. In Annals of Surgery. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). https://doi.org/10.1097/sla.0000000000006180