BMC Hospital at Home

Your care team will identify if you are eligible for Hospital at Home based on your diagnosis as well as other factors. There is a long list of qualifying diagnoses, such as:

• Congestive heart failure
• Pneumonia
• Cellulitis
• COPD exacerbation
• COVID-19
• Asthma exacerbation

Yes, Hospital at Home provides the same quality care you'd get at BMC. This may include medical equipment like a shower chair, oxygen, and a hospital bed. Scheduled in-person visits from a home health aide are also included as needed. Many patients find they feel better and recover more quickly in the comfort of their own home.

In fact, research shows that hospital-level care at home lowers the risk of falls, cognitive decline, and secondary infections.

When you enroll in Hospital at Home, our team will install state-of-the-art technology in your home, so you can communicate with your BMC care team at the touch of a button - at any time of day or night. The system includes:

• Tablet computer — for video visits with your care team as well as access to your daily care schedule and educational content
• Phone with a direct connection to your care team (no dialing needed)
• Personal emergency response bracelet
• Monitoring devices to measure your vital signs
• Backup power supply and Internet connectivity

It depends on the type of services you need. While many of your visits and services will be video-based, an in-home clinician will visit your home at least twice every day.

These visits are scheduled ahead of time so you know when to expect them.

Yes, everyone you live with needs to know you are being treated at home. You should include them when deciding whether to participate.

No, Hospital at Home is not a hospice care program. It is equivalent to inpatient care.

Patients in hospice care are not eligible to enroll in Hospital at Home.

Your care team will determine how long you'll remain in BMC Hospital at Home (also called the remote care unit). Usually, it's about the same length of time that you would spend in the hospital for your condition.

Most patients can receive all their care at home. If you need a test that cannot be done at home, such as a CT scan, we will transport you to and from the hospital for the test.

We ask that you stay home while you are on this service, just as if you were admitted to a hospital.

Once you begin to recover, you can talk with your team about when you can safely leave the house.

If the service is not working for you, you may ask to be discharged at any time. Your health care team will find a safe alternative and help transition your care.

No. If you are eligible to participate in Hospital at Home, your insurance will cover the cost of your care.