Newton-Wellesley Patients Now Have Access To Home Hospital Services

NEWTON, MA — Mass General Brigham and Newton-Wellesley Hospital have announced that Newton-Wellesley patients now will have access to Mass General Brigham's Home Hospital services.

The Tuesday announcement came after the program was granted expansion authorization from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

The program, one of the largest home hospital programs in the country, is designed to reach more patients across the region with care in the comfort of their own homes.

"We are thrilled to announce the launch of our home hospital program — which will be a game-changer for so many Newton-Wellesley Hospital patients," said Ellen Moloney, president and CEO of Newton-Wellesley Hospital. "Bringing high-quality healthcare directly to patients' homes, where they can be more comfortable and achieve better outcomes, reflects our commitment to innovative, patient-centered care and lowering healthcare costs."

According to hospital officials, home hospital care gained momentum in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since then, Mass General Brigham has provided home hospital services to over 3,000 patients, shifting the site of care for 15,000 days that would have otherwise been spent inside hospital facilities, officials said.

Home hospital services, officials said, are more advanced than traditional home health services as patients receive comprehensive treatment that involves daily in-home or virtual visits from a nurse practitioner, physician assistant or physician.

These professionals work in collaboration with a broader healthcare team that includes paramedics, nurses, therapists and home healthcare aides.

Services provided include: intravenous fluids and medications, laboratory testing, oxygen, radiology studies, electrocardiograms, and ultrasounds

A remote patient monitoring platform allows clinicians to monitor the at-home patient's vital signs.

According to Dr. David Levine, clinical director of research and development at Mass General Brigham Healthcare at Home, providing care at home results in improved quality outcomes, enhanced patient and employee experiences, and increased capacity and access to inpatient care.