Hospital Care at Home

The Care You Need, From Your Own Home

Our innovative Care at Home program gives selected patients the opportunity to have their hospital care needs met from the safety and comfort of home. Through a combination of in-home and Video Visits with Care at Home nurses, physicians, and nurse practitioners, as well remote monitoring, you will receive the same level of expert care we provide to our patients in the hospital.

  • Hospital-level care
  • Patient-centered, focused on each individual patient
  • U-M Health providers
  • Coordination across your U-M specialists

Seamless Care Experience

Your Care at Home care team will coordinate all aspects of your care, including testing, delivery of medical equipment, medication and supplies, follow-up care, referrals to specialists and more.

The Care at Home team works with your primary care provider and any U-M Health specialists involved in your care to ensure you have a seamless care experience, and that information from your Care at Home admission is available to your other providers.

Research shows that Care at Home patients experience similar outcomes as patients who are admitted to the hospital, without the inconvenience of a hospital admission, and with the benefit of staying at home, near friends and family.

What Should I Expect from Care at Home?

If your provider recommends you for admission to our Care at Home program, our team will help you understand what to expect and answer any questions you might have to make informed choices about your care. Our goal is for each patient who chooses the Care at Home program to feel confident about receiving their care at home.

If you are at a U-M Health hospital or clinic when you are admitted to Care at Home, medically supervised transportation back to your home will be provided. You will be met at home by a member of our Care at Home team. We will help you get settled in and set up a schedule for your Care at Home routine.

You will be connected with your care team through the use of devices that allow for remote health monitoring. Your care may include both in-person visits from health providers and scheduled Video Visits with our Care at Home team.

Your Care at Home team is here to help you receive care safely at home, with confidence.

Questions and Answers About Care at Home

Who can receive their hospital care through the Care at Home program?

Patients who may benefit from the Care at Home program require hospital-level care, but – with proper care – are likely to heal well with low risk of their condition getting worse. Patients recommended for Care at Home generally are less likely to require highly technical hospital-based procedures.

Patients are carefully evaluated to determine if they can safely and effectively receive care at home based on specific criteria. Our care team will never recommend a patient receive care at home if their needs cannot be safely met in the home environment.

Can I choose whether or not to receive Care at Home?

If your provider offers you the option to receive Care at Home, the choice is still yours. Your care team will answer any questions you have to help you decide about whether to receive your care at home or in the hospital. 

Is Care at Home covered by my insurance?

Our team will work with you to determine if Care at Home is covered by your insurance plan. Care at Home is a newer care concept that many insurances are starting to participate in, and coverage by individual plans may vary. We will check with your insurance provider to see if the Care at Home program may be right for you. 

Can I receive Care at Home if I live alone?

To receive Care at Home, a patient should have an adult who is able to live with them or provide frequent support during their Care at Home admission period. The adult does not need to have a medical background and will not be expected to provide specialized medical care.
 

How long will I receive Care at Home?

Your Care at Home admission period may vary. This is not a long-term, chronic disease management form of care, however. Most patients receive Care at Home for anywhere ranging from 3 to 5 days. 

How will I know if I am eligible to receive Care at Home?

Your care team will recommend Care at Home to you as an option if you can safely and effectively receive your hospital-level care from home. You can also ask your care team if it is an option for you, but please know that some types of treatment cannot be offered through Care at Home.
 

What is the difference between Care at Home and Virtual Care?

Virtual Care involves the use of E-Visits, Video Visits and remote monitoring. Care at Home may use some of the same tools in your care, but it also includes home visits from Care at Home nurses, physicians or nurse practitioners. Care at Home is considered a hospital admission and provides hospital-level care.
 

What time of day do the home visits take place in the Care at Home program?

Home visits with nurses, physicians, and nurse practitioners, as well as medication deliveries, can take place at various times throughout the day, generally between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., depending on your treatment plan. You will know in advance approximately what time your home visits will take place.

I am not comfortable with mobile devices (tablets, iPads, smartphones). Will Care at Home require me to use mobile devices?

There will be some use of mobile devices involved in your care if you choose the Care at Home program. A tablet with Bluetooth and cellular data capabilities will be provided for your use during your admission. Wireless internet is not required. We offer user-friendly instructions and demonstration videos on how to do a Video Visit.
 

Is Care at Home available for chronic medical conditions?

Care at Home is a specific program for management of acute conditions that require hospital-level care. It is different from a home health or skilled nursing program. Your care team has other offerings they will recommend for chronic disease management if you require long-term care or assistance with activities of daily living.
 

What types of medical equipment could my Care at Home treatment involve?

Care at Home can involve several different types of medical equipment, ranging from IVs, oxygen, wound supplies, nebulizer treatments, catheter supplies, and assistive devices such as a walker or portable bedside toilet. We will provide any instructions you might need, and your Care at Home team will provide any care that requires medical training when they do your home visits. Neither you nor the person living with you during your Care at Home admission will need to have medical training or skills related to the equipment. Any equipment that is needed for your care will be delivered to your home and picked up after your Care at Home admission is over.