Marlton, N.J.-based Virtua Health has expanded its hospital-at-home program to all five of its hospitals.
The health system launched the program in January at Virtua Voorhees (N.J.) Hospital and has since served more than 200 patients there. The patients get remote monitoring devices such as tablets and spirometers, virtual consultations, twice-daily visits from home healthcare staff, ready-to-heat meals (if requested), and other needed services including imaging, pharmacy, lab and physical therapy.
"The equipment that empowers Hospital at Home was simply not available five or more years ago," said Michael Capriotti, senior vice president of integration and strategic operations for Virtua Health, in a Dec. 7 health system news release. "Now, we can safely provide high-acuity care remotely. Even though the patients are not within our walls, we are just as connected."
The program started with COVID-19 patients but has since expanded to more than 30 other conditions, such as respiratory infections, pneumonia, COPD, urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal issues, and congestive heart failure.
The health system provides and installs the technology in patients' homes and outfits them with armbands that track vital signs that are relayed to nurses in the 24-7 command center.