Hospital at Home programs are emerging as a significant alternative to traditional inpatient care, especially for elderly patients requiring acute treatment. Understanding patient satisfaction within these home-based settings is crucial for the continued development and adoption of such models. This analysis delves into a study comparing patient experiences in a Hospital at Home program versus conventional acute hospital care, highlighting key areas where home care excels in patient satisfaction.
This research, conducted across three Medicare-managed health systems and a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, involved 214 community-dwelling older adults admitted for common acute conditions like pneumonia, heart failure exacerbation, COPD exacerbation, and cellulitis. Eighty-four of these patients received care through a physician-led Hospital at Home program, while 130 were treated in a standard acute care hospital setting. Patient satisfaction was meticulously measured using a comprehensive 40-question survey, assessing nine critical domains of care. Family member satisfaction was also evaluated using a similar 37-question survey encompassing eight domains.
The study revealed compelling results favoring the Hospital at Home model. Patients receiving home-based acute care reported significantly higher satisfaction across multiple domains compared to those in traditional hospitals. Specifically, Hospital at Home patients demonstrated greater satisfaction with their physician interactions (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 3.84, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.32-11.19), the overall comfort and convenience of their care environment (AOR = 6.52, 95% CI = 1.97-21.56), and the efficiency of admission processes (AOR = 5.90, 95% CI = 2.21-15.76). Furthermore, their overall care experience was rated more favorably (AOR = 2.98, 95% CI = 1.08-8.21). Family members of Hospital at Home patients echoed these sentiments, also expressing higher satisfaction across numerous care aspects.
These findings strongly indicate that the Hospital at Home model not only provides a viable alternative to inpatient hospitalization but also significantly enhances patient and family satisfaction. The increased satisfaction levels, particularly in areas like physician interaction, comfort, and convenience, underscore the patient-centered advantages of home-based acute care. As healthcare systems continuously seek to improve patient experiences and outcomes, the Hospital at Home approach presents a promising avenue. The demonstrable increase in patient satisfaction serves as a powerful endorsement for the broader implementation and exploration of Hospital at Home programs as a valuable tool in modern healthcare delivery. Further research and dissemination of the Hospital at Home model are warranted to fully realize its potential in improving acute care and patient well-being.
