In-home healthcare: Reducing hospitalizations through more personalized care

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• March 30, 2022

Insight summary

The shift towards hospital-level care at home in the US is transforming healthcare by making it more accessible and personalized, especially during public health emergencies. This trend combines technology with human touch, offering comprehensive care for a wider range of illnesses, but also highlights challenges such as the need for reliable internet access and potential disparities among lower-income families. From saving hospitals money and improving patient recovery to influencing government regulations and fostering new technological developments, the long-term implications of this trend are far-reaching.

In-home healthcare context

Hospitals in the US have begun to provide hospital-level care to patients at home, a shift that is part of a new federal effort to free up hospital beds during public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients in the US with low-level healthcare needs have often been cared for at home, but since the pandemic, an increasing number of healthcare systems have begun offering individuals with more severe conditions, hospital-level treatment in the comfort of their homes. This trend has the potential to change the way healthcare is delivered, making it more accessible and personalized. It also may help to reduce the strain on hospitals, especially during times of crisis.

In-home care involves regular videoconferencing and 24/7 monitoring of a patient. In addition, a nurse or a specialist health worker visits the patient twice a day at home. These professionals provide the care that cannot be provided virtually, such as intravenous antibiotics. The approach combines the benefits of technology with human touch, ensuring that patients receive comprehensive care. 

In 2021, about 60 illnesses, including COVID-19, qualified for in-home treatment. Patients often receive one-way phones, iPads for videoconferencing with health professionals, and wearable health monitoring devices. This method of care not only expands the range of treatable conditions but also enhances patient comfort and convenience. However, it also highlights the need for reliable internet access and technological literacy among patients. 

Disruptive impact 

Hospital-level care at home is increasing significantly because hospitals are eager to ease the overcrowding that has occurred during the 2020 pandemic. In contrast, insurers have realized that in-home care may cost them less than paying for a typical patient's hospital stay. Hospital groups may direct more resources to increase the size of their in-home treatment units, reflecting a shift in healthcare strategy. At the same time, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals may need to receive additional training to follow in-home treatment protocols, which could lead to a new focus on education and skill development within the healthcare industry.

However, hospitals that constructed new infrastructure and on-site facilities may decline to invest in in-home care given the investments made in their own facilities and the funding models supporting these investments. This reluctance could create a divide in the healthcare industry, with some institutions embracing the trend and others resisting it. The decision to invest or not in in-home care could become a defining factor in the competitive landscape of healthcare providers. It may also lead to a reevaluation of investment strategies and the way healthcare facilities plan for future growth and adapt to changing patient needs.

Governments may also devise legislation that sets industry standards for patients receiving in-home care to ensure patients are not neglected and that health practitioners are protected when administering treatment in private residences. This trend may lead to a broader conversation about the regulation and oversight of healthcare delivery outside traditional settings. It could also prompt governments to consider how to support and facilitate this shift in care, possibly through incentives, guidelines, or public-private partnerships. 

Implications of in-home health care

Wider implications of in-home health care may include:

• Bring about changes in federal and state rules to formalize a broader range of in-home medical services, leading to a more structured and regulated approach to healthcare delivery outside traditional settings.
• Save hospitals money as they may not need to expand their facilities; fewer patients may need to be admitted, while nursing home stays could also be eliminated, leading to a projected savings of as much as 30 percent.
• Better recovery outcomes as research has shown that at-home care provides better outcomes for patients; patients recover more readily when they are in familiar surroundings and in the company of family members and their pets.
• A healthcare service disparity as lower-income families may not have access to reliable internet for videoconferencing and constant monitoring, leading to unequal access to these advanced healthcare services.
• The development of new in-home care technologies sold by MedTech vendors to hospital groups, leading to a more technology-driven approach to healthcare and potential new business opportunities for technology companies.
• Increased demand for specialized training for healthcare professionals in in-home care protocols, leading to changes in educational curricula and professional development programs.
• Urban planning and housing design accommodating in-home healthcare needs, leading to more accessible and adaptable living spaces that can support medical equipment and healthcare professionals' visits.
• Insurers offering new products or adjusting existing policies to cover in-home care, leading to changes in how healthcare is financed and insured.
• Reduced need for large hospital infrastructures and increased use of virtual consultations, leading to potential energy savings and a reduced carbon footprint in the healthcare sector.
• A rethinking of how healthcare is provided and potentially fostering more patient-centered, personalized, and flexible approaches that adapt to individual needs and preferences.

Questions to consider

• Would you feel safe and comforted receiving hospital-level care at home?
• Do you think hospital care at home is likely to become more common or even become the dominant form of healthcare provision in the future?