Mass General Brigham’s Home Hospital and Ariadne Labs have teamed up with the New England Center and Home for Veterans (NECHV) to launch a hospital-at-home pathway for homeless veterans. The partners noted that this is the first effort in the country to test receipt of acute medical treatment in a housing partner’s residence rather than in a physical facility.
As the partners explained, through this pathway, eligible residents of the NECHV Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Safe Haven, which provides on-site supportive services for veterans with chronic medical or behavioral health conditions, will have access to expert hospital care from providers at your Safe Haven residence. When they need hospital care, these veterans often lose access to important wraparound services, lose their belongings, and even lose their bed, forcing them to restart the housing process.
MGB Home Hospital patients receive comprehensive treatment that involves at least two daily home visits from a paramedic or nurse and at least one daily visit (virtual or in-person) from a physician or advanced practice provider.
Patients also benefit from a 24/7 remote monitoring platform, which tracks vital signs and facilitates ongoing communication with their clinical team. This comprehensive approach ensures patients receive the care they need, when they need it, and has been shown to reduce hospital readmissions and improve physical activity.
“The Home Hospital care model offers an opportunity to promote health equity. By providing high-quality care directly to homeless veterans—a historically underserved population who face significant barriers—we can ensure they receive the care and support they need, ultimately transforming their health outcomes and narrowing the gap in access to care. care,” said David Levine, MD. , MPH, MA, clinical director of research and development at Mass General Brigham’s Healthcare at Home, in a statement. “This program will help inform future implementation practices to provide care to this population.”
“Those in our Safe Haven program are the most vulnerable and challenged veterans we serve. The comprehensive on-site care offered by the Home Hospital program will help prevent the need for hospitalization and maintain your physical well-being, NECHV President and CEO Andy McCawley said in a statement.
