Healthcare

Healthcare

OHSU Health Hospital at Home

A woman looking at a side table that has a telephone as well as a propped up tablet that is being used to videoconference with a healthcare provider.
Hospital at Home patients meet with their doctor every day through two-way video. Medical staff also come to their home each day.

OHSU Health Hospital at Home offers the care you need in your own home. When you’re recovering from illness, the hospital may be the last place you want to be. Hospital at Home brings the hospital to you.

We offer:

  • Care focused on you where you feel most safe and comfortable.
  • Hospital-level care, including IV therapy, lab tests and imaging.
  • Instant access to your care team, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Better outcomes than staying in the hospital. Hospital at Home patients recover faster and are less likely to return to the hospital.

What is Hospital at Home?

OHSU Health Hospital at Home brings hospital care to you. Our doctors, nurses and other professionals treat you and monitor you in your own home just like they would in the hospital. We give you personalized care and frequent contact with your care team, in the comfort of your own home.

Who is offered this service?

Hospital at Home patients must:

  • Be 18 or older
  • Have a qualifying ZIP code
  • Have a qualifying diagnosis, such as (but not limited to):
    • Congestive heart failure
    • Pneumonia
    • Cellulitis
    • Urinary tract infection (UTI)/pyelonephritis
    • COVID-19

If you are interested, talk to your care team. They will connect us and we will talk with you to decide if you could benefit from Hospital at Home.

How Hospital at Home works

If you qualify and choose to take part in Hospital at Home, we will send you home as soon as you are stable. Any medical equipment you need will be delivered right away. We will visit your home to set up the equipment, provide care and answer your questions.

Throughout your Hospital at Home stay, we provide:

A photo of a side table that has a telephone, a propped up tablet computer and some miscellaneous items including a few vases.
We provide all the equipment you need, including a phone to reach us without dialing, a tablet for video visits and medical supplies.
  • Multiple daily video visits with your doctor or nurse.
  • 24/7 access to your care team. You can reach us any time.
  • Close contact with your primary care provider, especially when you are discharged.
  • Frequent vital signs monitoring. We will check your temperature, breathing and pulse.
  • Medications adjusted and delivered daily as needed.
  • IV therapy as needed, including antibiotics and fluids.
  • Laboratory tests and imaging as needed.
  • Easy-to-heat meals that fit your diet.
  • Physical and occupational therapy to help you get stronger.
  • A daily schedule of who will visit you and when.

Sample Hospital at Home schedule

This example shows what types of home visits a Hospital at Home patient might have. Your length of stay, number of daily visits and treatments will depend on your needs.

Day of admission

  • In-home admission visit and IV therapy session
  • Video visit with doctor
  • Oxygen delivery and lab testing in your home

Day 1

  • In-home nurse visit, with doctor on two-way video
  • IV therapy session and video visit to check on you and answer questions
  • Lab testing in your home
  • Nurse Practitioner in-home visit

Day 2

  • Doctor visit through two-way video
  • IV therapy session and metered-dose inhaler breathing treatment
  • X-ray and video visit to check on you and answer questions
  • Lab testing in your home

Day 3

  • In-home nurse visit, with doctor on two-way video
  • IV therapy session and video visit to check on you and answer questions
  • Lab testing in your home

Day 4

  • Doctor visit through two-way video
  • IV therapy session and video visit to check on you and answer questions
  • Lab testing in your home
A woman sitting on a couch in her living room watching as a female healthcare provider is showing her how to set up a Hospital at Home visit using a telephone and tablet computer on a side table.
Medical staff set up communications equipment in your home and show you how to use it.

How Hospital at Home benefits patients

Hospital at Home patients say that being at home is more comfortable and convenient than being in the hospital. They also enjoy having more control over their sleep, activities, meals and space.

Studies comparing hospital-at-home care with a hospital stay show many benefits:

  • Shorter stay
  • Less chance of readmission within 30 days
  • Less time sitting still or lying down
  • Better sleep

Frequently asked questions on Hospital at Home

In a medical or environmental emergency, push the emergency button.

Medical emergencies include:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Fall with injury
  • Can’t move
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Seizures
  • Bleeding uncontrollably
  • Severe chest pain
  • Choking

Environmental emergencies include:

  • Unexpected power outage
  • Evacuation order
  • Wildfire
  • Earthquake
  • Flooding

For other questions or concerns, contact your care team any time, day or night. Pick up your gray handset – no dialing needed.

Learn more: Patient Emergency Response Guide

Yes. You can reach your care team any time, day or night. Push the talk to my team button or pick up your gray handset – no dialing needed.

You or your caregiver can also call OHSU Health Hospital at Home at 503-922-7949.

Yes. We offer our Hospital at Home service to patients who may benefit from recovering at home. It is your choice if you want to take part.

At your admission visit, we will show you and your caregiver how to use all of the communications tools we bring to your home. Nurses and other medical staff will come to your home to provide medical care.

The out-of-pocket costs will be the same as if you were in the hospital. There is no additional cost to you.

Yes. We work closely with your primary care provider throughout your care. At discharge, we will send them a detailed report.

To keep you safe and help you recover, you should stay home while you are a Hospital at Home patient. Just as if you were staying in the hospital, your activity level will depend on your diagnosis and condition. When you are discharged from Hospital at Home, you may go back to your regular activities.

Having a caregiver in your home is not required. We will talk with you to decide if you could benefit from Hospital at Home, and the support you need depends on your condition. We can provide extra help at home, like home health aides and physical therapy services.

Hospital at Home research

For patients and caregivers

You can reach us 24 hours a day:

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