Hospital Care at Home
A New Program from SSM Health at Home
A department of SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – Madison and is currently available in Madison, Wisconsin.
SSM Health at Home’s Hospital Care at Home program provides hospital quality care from the comfort of your own home. Studies show that patients receiving in-home care:
- Often recover faster in a familiar environment
- Are less likely to return to a hospital
- Spend less time in bed and are able to be more mobile
- Enjoy more time with family, friends, and pets
The Hospital Care at Home program includes:
- 24/7 care team assistance by phone or the push of a button on a supplied digital tablet.
- Virtual visits with a provider overseeing your care.
- A care coordinator to arrange all your provider visits and ensure seamless communication among your providers and support network.
- In-home visits from your nurse and other health care professionals for injections, IV therapy, catheter care, and more.
- Delivery of, set-up, and training on all necessary medical equipment and supplies.
- Medical treatment and 24-hour remote monitoring, including medication administration at home.
We provide specialty services in your home as needed, including diagnostic services like blood work or X-rays. Physical, occupational, and speech therapists may visit to help you regain mobility and restore functional abilities. Other services available to our Hospital Care at Home program patients include in-home oxygen therapy, wound care, and nebulizer treatments.
Getting Started in Hospital Care at Home
Leaving the hospital for home.
Once your hospital care team determines you are eligible for the Hospital Care at Home program, your hospital care team will coordinate your medical orders and medications to transition you from the hospital to your home. A nurse or pharmacist will review your medications with you before you leave, and the hospital discharge care team will help arrange for your transportation home.
Your personalized in-home hospital care.
A nurse will visit you at your home soon after your arrival to provide and set up all the necessary vital signs monitoring equipment, medications, and medication lockbox. The nurse will explain how to use the equipment and give you information about the care you will receive through the Hospital Care at Home program.
Just like your in-person hospital stay, your provider and nursing team will manage your medications. Your nurse will provide in-home hospital visits at least twice daily and our Hospital Care at Home program care team will call you before arriving at your home for each visit.
If your provider orders other services, you may also receive additional visits from other Hospital Care at Home program care team members such as physical or occupational therapists. Your provider will give you more information on any additional in-home visits to expect.
Your responsibilities.
You will be required to stay at home and take your prescribed medications and follow all instructions from your Hospital Care at Home program. You will be responsible for taking your vital signs twice a day, taking your medications as directed, and communicating that information to your care team as outlined in your personal care plan to be part of SSM Health at Home's Hospital Care at Home program.
It is necessary to attend the virtual visits scheduled by your provider on the digital tablet provided. When the tablet rings, press the “ACCEPT” button to start your visit. You can also start an online chat from your digital tablet.
Adhering to these guidelines is crucial for your recovery. If you fail to comply with them, you may need to be transferred back to a hospital or discharged from the program.
Discharge from the Hospital Care at Home program.
When it is time for discharge from the program, you will have an in-home hospital nursing visit and a virtual visit on the provided digital tablet with your provider to get instructions about any future care needs and/or medications. Your provider will place any new medication orders for you that can be picked up at a pharmacy of your choice.
If needed, your provider will order any home care services following your discharge from the Hospital Care at Home program. A nurse will make a final in-home hospital visit to review your provider’s after-visit summary and any medication orders.
You will need to pack up the monitoring equipment in the packaging provided. Your Hospital Care at Home program care team will arrange for all equipment to be picked up from your home.
Billing information for SSM Health At Home’s Hospital Care at Home program.
You will receive one bill for the entire duration of your hospitalization across both your time in the hospital and your treatment at home. There is no additional cost for being cared for at home rather than in a hospital.
Frequently Asked Questions
Patients can be part of the Hospital Care at Home program until care is no longer needed, as with a typical hospital stay.
No. There is no additional cost for being cared for at home rather than in a hospital.
Since insurers often have different coverage plans, your care team will help you to evaluate whether your insurance plan offers coverage for the SSM Health at Home’s Hospital Care at Home program prior to leaving the hospital.
You will be provided with equipment such as blood pressure monitors and pulse oximeters that collect important vital signs and analyze your care. The devices are monitored remotely by a specialized care team. If the team detects a concern, they can quickly provide help to you.
Your Hospital Care at Home program care team is always one phone call or button click away. You and your family can call or reach out by telephone or by video on a digital tablet you will be provided upon admission to the program.
SSM Health at Home’s Hospital Care at Home program brings all the hospital resources directly to you for personalized care that allows you to focus on a quick recovery in the comfort of your own home.