1
|
Pandit JA, Pawelek JB, Leff B, Topol EJ. The hospital at home in the USA: current status and future prospects. NPJ Digit Med 2024; 7:48. [PMID: 38413704 PMCID: PMC10899639 DOI: 10.1038/s41746-024-01040-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The annual cost of hospital care services in the US has risen to over $1 trillion despite relatively worse health outcomes compared to similar nations. These trends accentuate a growing need for innovative care delivery models that reduce costs and improve outcomes. HaH-a program that provides patients acute-level hospital care at home-has made significant progress over the past two decades. Technological advancements in remote patient monitoring, wearable sensors, health information technology infrastructure, and multimodal health data processing have contributed to its rise across hospitals. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic brought HaH into the mainstream, especially in the US, with reimbursement waivers that made the model financially acceptable for hospitals and payors. However, HaH continues to face serious challenges to gain widespread adoption. In this review, we evaluate the peer-reviewed evidence and discuss the promises, challenges, and what it would take to tap into the future potential of HaH.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jay A Pandit
- Scripps Translational Research Institute, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Jeff B Pawelek
- Scripps Translational Research Institute, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Bruce Leff
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Eric J Topol
- Scripps Translational Research Institute, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tago M, Hirata R, Takahashi H, Yamashita S, Nogi M, Shikino K, Sasaki Y, Watari T, Shimizu T. How Do We Establish the Utility and Evidence of General Medicine in Japan? Int J Gen Med 2024; 17:635-638. [PMID: 38410241 PMCID: PMC10896665 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s451260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Hospital Medicine in the United States has achieved significant progress in the accumulation of evidence. This development has influenced the increasing societal demand for General Medicine in Japan. Generalists in Japan actively engage in a wide range of interdisciplinary clinical practices, education, and management. Furthermore, Generalists have also contributed to advances in research. However, there is limited evidence regarding the benefits of General Medicine in Japan in all these areas, with most of the evidence derived from single-center studies. In Japan, the roles of Generalists are diverse, and the comprehensive definition of General Medicine makes it difficult to clearly delineate its scope. This results in an inadequate accumulation of evidence regarding the benefits of General Medicine, potentially making it less attractive to the public and younger physicians. Therefore, it is necessary to categorize General Medicine and collect clear evidence regarding its benefits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Tago
- Department of General Medicine, Saga University Hospital, Saga, Japan
| | - Risa Hirata
- Department of General Medicine, Saga University Hospital, Saga, Japan
| | - Hiromizu Takahashi
- Department of General Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shun Yamashita
- Department of General Medicine, Saga University Hospital, Saga, Japan
- Education and Research Center for Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan
| | - Masayuki Nogi
- Hospitalist Division, The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu, HI, USA
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Kameda Medical Center, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Shikino
- Department of General Medicine, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yosuke Sasaki
- Department of General Medicine and Emergency Care, Toho University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Watari
- General Medicine Center, Shimane University Hospital, Shimane, Japan
| | - Taro Shimizu
- Department of Diagnostic and Generalist Medicine, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Tsujimoto Y, Kobayashi M, Oku T, Ogawa T, Yamadera S, Tsukamoto M, Matsuda N, Nishihira M, Terauchi Y, Tanaka T, Kawabata Y, Miyamoto Y, Morikami Y. Outcomes in novel hospital-at-home model for patients with COVID-19: a multicentre retrospective cohort study. Fam Pract 2023; 40:662-670. [PMID: 36723907 PMCID: PMC10745271 DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmad010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hospital-at-home (HaH) care has been proposed as an alternative to inpatient care for patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Previous reports were hospital-led and involved patients triaged at the hospitals. To reduce the burden on hospitals, we constructed a novel HaH care model organized by a team of local primary care clinics. METHODS We conducted a multicentre retrospective cohort study of the COVID-19 patients who received our HaH care from 1 January to 31 March 2022. Patients who were not able to be triaged for the need for hospitalization by the Health Center solely responsible for the management of COVID-19 patients in Osaka city were included. The primary outcome was receiving medical care beyond the HaH care defined as a composite outcome of any medical consultation, hospitalization, or death within 30 days from the initial treatment. RESULTS Of 382 eligible patients, 34 (9%) were triaged for hospitalization immediately after the initial visit. Of the remaining 348 patients followed up, 37 (11%) developed the primary outcome, while none died. Obesity, fever, and gastrointestinal symptoms at baseline were independently associated with an increased risk of needing medical care beyond the HaH care. A further 129 (37%) patients were managed online alone without home visit, and 170 (50%) required only 1 home visit in addition to online treatment. CONCLUSIONS The HaH care model with a team of primary care clinics was able to triage patients with COVID-19 who needed immediate hospitalization without involving hospitals, and treated most of the remaining patients at home.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yasushi Tsujimoto
- Oku Medical Clinic, Shimmori 7-1-4, Asahi-ku, Osaka, Japan
- Scientific Research Works Peer Support Group (SRWS-PSG), Koraibashi 1-7-7-2302, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Health Promotion and Human Behavior, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine/School of Public Health, Yoshida Konoecho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Tomohisa Oku
- Oku Medical Clinic, Shimmori 7-1-4, Asahi-ku, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takahisa Ogawa
- Oku Medical Clinic, Shimmori 7-1-4, Asahi-ku, Osaka, Japan
- Scientific Research Works Peer Support Group (SRWS-PSG), Koraibashi 1-7-7-2302, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | - Yu Terauchi
- Terauchi Clinic, Dotonbori 1 Chomehigashi 5-5, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takahiro Tanaka
- Minato Clinic, Nagarahigashi 1-4-24-102, Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan
| | | | - Yuki Miyamoto
- Yoshiki Home Care Clinic, Yamada Yonotsubocho 12-2, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Morikami
- Yoshiki Home Care Clinic, Yamada Yonotsubocho 12-2, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Miyamoto Y, Matsumura Y, Sumiyoshi S, Morikami Y, Nagao M. Hospital-at-home care for immunodeficient patients with COVID-19: Approach to persistent COVID-19 infection. Clin Case Rep 2023; 11:e7294. [PMID: 37151938 PMCID: PMC10160423 DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.7294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Key Clinical Message Patients with COVID-19 who have undergone B-cell depletion therapy could have prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection; therefore, even in the hospital-at-home setting, primary care physicians should carefully consider the treatment regimen and the timing of ending isolations in such cases, and should not hesitate to consult with infectious disease specialists if necessary. Abstract We presented the first reported case of hospital-at-home care for a patient with persistent COVID-19 who had undergone B-cell depletion therapy. He received hospital-at-home care, including two courses of remdesivir; however, he ultimately failed to recover and was transferred to the hospital.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Miyamoto
- Department of Emergency MedicineKyoto Prefectural University of MedicineKyotoJapan
- Yoshiki Home Care ClinicKyotoJapan
| | - Yasufumi Matsumura
- Department of Clinical Laboratory MedicineKyoto University Graduate School of MedicineKyotoJapan
| | | | | | - Miki Nagao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory MedicineKyoto University Graduate School of MedicineKyotoJapan
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Home oxygen monitoring and therapy have been increasingly used in the management of patients with chronic diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the rapid uptake of remote monitoring programmes to support people with COVID-19 at home. This review discusses the recent evidence and learning in home oxygen monitoring and therapy from the pandemic. RECENT FINDINGS Many home oxygen monitoring programmes were established around the world during the pandemic, mostly in high-income countries to support early detection of hypoxaemia and/or early hospital discharge. The characteristics of these programmes vary widely in the type of monitoring (self-monitoring or clinician-monitoring) and the patient risk groups targeted. There is a lack of evidence for benefits on clinical outcomes, including mortality, and on reductions in healthcare utilisation or cost-effectiveness, but programmes are viewed positively by patients. Recent studies have highlighted the potential bias in pulse oximetry in people with darker skin. SUMMARY Recent evidence indicates that home oxygen monitoring therapy programmes are feasible in acute disease, but further research is needed to establish whether they improve patient outcomes, are cost-effective and to understand their equity impact.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jonathan Clarke
- Department of Mathematics, Imperial College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Inokuchi R, Jin X, Iwagami M, Sun Y, Sakamoto A, Ishikawa M, Tamiya N. Comparison of the Characteristics and Outcomes of COVID-19 Patients Treated by a Hospital-at-Home Service in Japan during the Alpha and Delta Waves. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11113185. [PMID: 35683569 PMCID: PMC9181747 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11113185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus infections occurred in repeated waves caused by different variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), with the number of patients increasing during each wave. A private after-hours house-call (AHHC) service provides hospital-at-home (HaH) services to patients in Japan requiring oxygen when hospital beds are in short supply. This retrospective study aimed to compare the characteristics of COVID-19 patients treated by the AHHC service during the COVID-19 waves caused by the Alpha (March−June 2021) and Delta (July−December 2021) SARS-CoV-2 variants. All patients with COVID-19 treated by the AHHC service from March to December 2021 while awaiting hospitalization were included. The data were collected from medical records and follow-up telephone interviews. The AHHC service treated 55 and 273 COVID-19 patients during the Alpha and Delta waves, respectively. The patients treated during the Delta wave were significantly younger than those treated during the Alpha wave (median: 63 years and 47 years, respectively; p < 0.001). Disease severity did not differ significantly between the two waves, but the crude case-fatality rate was significantly higher during the Alpha wave (10/55, 18.2%) than during the Delta wave (4/273, 1.4%; p < 0.001). The patient characteristics and outcomes differed between the Alpha and Delta waves.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryota Inokuchi
- Department of Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
- Health Services Research and Development Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Xueying Jin
- Department of Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
- Health Services Research and Development Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Masao Iwagami
- Department of Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
- Health Services Research and Development Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yu Sun
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Ayaka Sakamoto
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Ishikawa
- Department of Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
- Health Services Research and Development Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Nanako Tamiya
- Department of Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
- Health Services Research and Development Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
| |
Collapse
|