More hospital services can be done outside of the hospital.
Many patients who are admitted at Christiana Hospital or the Wilmington emergency room are going home with more than just doctor's instructions. Those who are deemed appropriate for the Hospital Care at Home Program are also equipped with medical diagnostic equipment, a tablet with which to consult with their provider - even an emergency power supply.
Patients also get regular visits, and ChristianaCare said there is no drop-off in the quality of care.
Thursday, several patients reunited with their providers as ChristianaCare celebrated more than 1,000 admissions since beginning the program in December 2021.
(speaking in the video: Dr. Sarah Schenck of ChristianaCare; Sen. Tom Carper, Susan (patient of ChristianaCare Hospital Care at Home Program)
"For many of our patients, they have an option to go home and we bring the care to them," ChristianaCare Center for Virtual Health Executive Director Dr. Sarah Schenck said.
ChristianaCare President and CEO Dr. Janice Nevin reflected on the early days of her medical career when she would visit patients to offer testing and treatment.
"I know the value of crossing that threshold and being able to care for someone in their own environment," Nevin said.
ChristianaCare's program started in late 2021 when the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services started a waiver program to allow Medicare beneficiaries to receive acute-level health care services in their homes. Senator Tom Carper, D-Del. has been advocating for this type of care at the federal level, with a particular focus on Medicare patients.
"It's a win-win situation. It's a win for the Medicare patient. It's a winner for the taxpayers because we provide better health care for less money," Carper said.
Susan, of Hockessin, was able to move from hospital to home to continue treatment.
"I didn't know anything about it at the time, but it was the best thing I ever did," she said.
