Home Hospital program: A pilot study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the basic safety and feasibility of hospital care at home (Home Hospital (HH)) for treating acutely ill older persons requiring hospitalization. DESIGN: Prospective case series SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling persons aged 65 and older req uiring acute hospital admission for community-acquired pneumonia, chronic h eart failure, chronic obstructive airways disease, or cellulitis. RESULTS: Seventeen subjects were treated in HH. One hundred twenty-two coul d not be enrolled because they presented for admission at times when HH was not operational. Six patients refused to enroll in HH. Subjects treated in HH had comparable clinical outcomes to those treated in the acute hospital and were highly satisfied with HH. Charges for HH care were 60% of those f or the acute hospital care. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, HH was safe, feasible, highly satisfactor y, and cost-effective for certain acutely ill older persons who required ac ute hospitalization.