Where Hospital-At-Home Programs Are Heading After Last Year's Boom

Ashish V. Shah is CEO of Dina, an AI-powered care-at-home platform, that supports the industry's transition to virtual and in-home care. The Covid-19 pandemic has made it clear that we need a robust digital healthcare system that extends from the doctor's office into the home. 

While care-at-home programs aren't new, the tools and technology to accelerate adoption have finally arrived. In some models, provider visits have replaced physician rounds, diagnostic testing is procured by mobile labs and imaging services and vitals monitoring takes place via remote patient engagement.

Another signal that in-home care is here to stay: 59 health systems and 133 hospitals across 32 states have been approved for the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver program that allows Medicare payments for additional services provided in the home. Asthma, pneumonia, congestive heart failure and dozens of other acute conditions are now covered under the waiver.