Hospital at Home
Offered at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, IL, Hospital at Home combines video and in-person visits to bring hospital-level care to you. Your dedicated care team will watch your health closely – including your vitals, medications, imaging and labs – and be available 24/7 if your needs change.
Who is eligible for Hospital at Home?
Hospital at Home is available with a provider referral for patients who only need monitoring, medication or other similar services. Your provider will let you know if you fit the eligibility criteria, which includes:
- You must be medically stable and able to remain safely at home.
- You’re capable of understanding and consenting to a Hospital at Home care plan.
- You have an available emergency contact and a working phone.
- You must live in Illinois and be within range of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital.
Hospital at Home services
Our Hospital at Home team ensures patients receive the same high-quality care as in the hospital. Though everyone’s needs are different, our services include:
- Hospital-level care for people ages 18 and older
- 24-hour monitoring of your heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen levels
- A 24-hour comprehensive care team, including an on-call doctor and nurse from Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, who treat and monitor you virtually using telehealth
- In-person visits from a paramedic team, who can place IVs, take vitals and listen to your heart and lungs
- Complete coordination of care, including daily care plans, appointments and referrals
- Food, supplies and other care necessities delivered to your home, just as they would be delivered to your room in the hospital
- Easy, immediate connection to emergency care and emergency services if needed
- Access to translation services
What conditions are treated with Hospital at Home?
Examples of sudden or serious acute conditions that may quality for Hospital at Home include:
- Asthma
- Chronic heart failure
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Conditions requiring infusion therapy
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Hyperlipidemia
- Gastroenteritis (stomach flu)
- Moderate respiratory infections, including COVID-19
- Monitoring after an illness
- Pulmonary embolism
- Recovery from surgery
- Urinary tract infections (UTI)
Does Medicare or insurance cover Hospital at Home?
Most Medicare and insurance plans cover Hospital at Home services if you meet the program requirements. Your costs are usually the same as a hospital stay. Check with your health plan to confirm coverage and any out-of-pocket costs.
Meet the Hospital at Home care team
Your Hospital at Home care team will include:
- Navigator: Your navigator has extensive experience and training in both bedside nursing and Hospital at Home. They help coordinate your care every step of the way.
- Hospitalist: A hospitalist is a doctor who cares for patients receiving hospital-level care. They’ll help coordinate all of your needs virtually, from care management to discharge planning, and stay in close contact with your care team.
- Nurse: In addition to a hospitalist, you'll have a nurse available 24/7. They’ll monitor your vitals virtually and stand ready to address any concerns that come up.
- Paramedic team: While most of your care is done virtually, you'll receive in-person visits from a certified paramedic team. This team checks vitals, delivers medical equipment and inserts IVs if needed, and works closely with your home health care team.
- Social worker: A social worker supports you and your family and guides you to any patient support resources you may need.
How does Hospital at Home work?
During admission, you’ll meet with a trained navigator. They’ll help you understand the program, complete a few screenings and answer any questions you may have.
When you’re ready, we’ll transport you home safely. Members of our team will set up the simple technology needed for your care and teach you how to use it. This includes a wireless monitor and a screen that shows important day-to-day details about your care. Your safety is our top priority, which is why all technology is controlled by you and includes special features to protect your health information.
If you have a caregiver at home with you, our Hospital at Home team will also take the time to help educate and support them so they can support you with confidence.
Our team will organize all your care, including your daily care plan, medications, appointments and referrals to subspecialists if needed.
In addition to video visits with doctors and nurses at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, you'll receive in-person visits from certified paramedics. They’ll come to your home at least twice daily to give you your medications and check your vital signs.
For your safety and convenience, our paramedic team will always wear uniforms with badges and have set appointment times, so there are no surprise visits.
Once you feel better and are discharged from our care, we’ll follow up with your provider and stay in close touch. We’ll remain available to coordinate additional appointments or care as needed, including finding a dedicated provider for your continued care.
How can I learn more about Hospital at Home?
Talk to your Advocate Lutheran General Hospital provider and care team if you’d like to learn more at Hospital at Home.
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