Saint Luke’s Health System has been at the heart of Kansas City healthcare. Improving patient care and initiating care innovations. In July 2022, the hospital launched its Hospital in Your Home care model aiming to lower costs, improve health outcomes and enhance the overall patient experience.

The HIYH care model

The HIYH care model initiated by Saint Luke’s offers patients the opportunity to stay in the comfort of their homes and receive high-quality care. Patients can be close to their family members improving the patient experience.

The Hospital in Your Home program would help to improve patient health status, decrease hospital readmission, and reduce the need for post-acute care services and emergency department visits. The HIYH care model is expected to expand hospital capacity without the construction of a new building and even address workflow challenges due to the pandemic.

Making the care model work

The health system collaborated with Medically Home to create an integrated virtual and physical care model to manage the Hospital in Your Home Program.

The care model uses a software platform provided by Medically Home named, Cesia, which is integrated into the Epic EMR Software installed in homes to connect patients to the virtual command center. A full spectrum of medical care can be delivered at home.

The command center workflows are designed to support round-the-clock high-acuity care at home. The software technology offers ease of use and reliability to ensure that the care model works seamlessly. The command center team coordinates with service providers to offer supportive care at homes.

Since the launch of the program Saint Luke has offered care to more than 25 patients. The average patient age receiving care at home is 78 years. The most prevalent reason for admission has been heart failure followed by COPD, pneumonia, and COVID.

Favorable results of the HIYH program

The care model has been successful in the following ways:

  • Patient satisfaction has been 18% higher in contrast to patients hospitalized in a brick-and-mortar facility.
  • Patients like receiving care in the comforts of their homes.
  • Patients felt empowered to manage their chronic conditions.
  • Readmission rates declined by 15%.
  • The hospital has seen a reduction in ED holds for these patients.

Final takeaway

To make the HIYH care model work the partnership with Medically Home was crucial as it offered the technology resources required to manage the service provider network and establish the needed workflows to make the program a success.

Hospital in Your Home introduces another care option for patients at Saint Luke to receive high-quality patient care that supports an environment for their treatment and recovery.