MyMichigan Health Joining 80-Plus Health Systems in Expanding Hospital at Home Program

The program touts evidence of higher-quality outcomes at lower costs for patients compared to traditional acute care. MyMichigan Health is now among 84 health systems in the U.S., and one of four in Michigan, offering a hospital at home program approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The program allows for inpatient-level acute care in a patient's home.

MyMichigan began a pilot program in February 2021 to care for COVID-19 patients in two communities, Alma and Midland. To date, 39 COVID-19 patients have completed the Hospital at Home (HaH) COVID Completion program, with officials reporting no adverse events. In May 2021, the pilot expanded to include COPD, pneumonia and sepsis patients, with 27 additional patients receiving care. The program is now expanding and placing extra emphasis on achieving an inpatient standard of care in the home.

Based on a program developed by University of Michigan Health, with which MyMichigan Health is affiliated, the program aims to manage select acute diagnoses safely inside a home setting, offering approaches beyond even the increased adoption of remote monitoring technologies. The program touts evidence of higher-quality outcomes with HaH, and at a lower cost to patients compared to those with similar conditions admitted to acute care facilities. It also emphasized the removal of travel costs and transportation barriers.