After Your Hospital Care, Why Not Home for Your Next Step in Healing?

There’s no place like home. This saying is especially true if you are in the hospital recovering from an injury or illness. While the hospital is the safest place if you need around-the-clock care, you may be able to recover safely at home if you only need intermittent care.

“Studies have shown that many people actually prefer to receive care in their own home and recover more quickly at home than in a hospital or skilled nursing facility,” says Laura Kohler, Administrator, Integrated Care Coordination, Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN).

Your care team will decide whether you are able to recover at home before you are discharged from the hospital. Some of the factors include whether you have someone to help care for you at home, have transportation to any follow-up appointments and if there are any safety concerns.

Receiving care at home is an increasingly popular option among people of all ages. There are several advantages, including the convenience and comfort of being in a familiar environment.

Home health care can improve your overall patient experience by giving you greater control over your care. People who receive home health care also have lower readmission rates, improved activities of daily living and better pain management.

If you are eligible to receive care at home, LVHN has several resources. Kohler says the programs were designed with home health in mind.

• Acute Care Bridge Clinic (ACBC) – The goal of ACBC is to help bridge the transition from the hospital to home. Our team of care navigators collaborates with specialists to provide immediate follow-up care virtually through a video visit after you are discharged from the hospital. Care navigators can help manage questions regarding medications, follow-up visits and more.
• Remote patient monitoring (RPM) – RPM helps people with chronic conditions learn to manage their health from home. If you are placed in the program, you will receive a kit that includes tools to record your vital signs. Information is reviewed by a member of the RPM team, and if needed they will reach out to discuss any concerns or pass along the information to your care team to further review. Patients usually stay on this program for about 90 days.
• LVHN@Home – LVHN@Home combines home nurse visits, virtual physician visits and enhanced remote-patient monitoring to help those who may need to be monitored, but not necessarily hospitalized. If you are placed in the program, you will receive a kit that includes tools to record your vital signs. Information is reviewed by a member of the RPM team who coordinates care between home care and the ACBC. The LVHN@Home team will see individuals via video, as needed, throughout the program. Patients usually stay on the LVHN@Home program for two weeks or less.
• Transition of care and care navigation – Transition of care team members are available to help you following your discharge from the hospital. If eligible, a transition of care team member may provide care coordination services for 30 days after discharge.