Mayo Clinic announces a new model that will deliver comprehensive care to patients—all from the comfort of their homes—via a new technology platform. Through advanced care at home, patients with conditions previously managed in a hospital will have the option to transition to a home setting and receive high-quality virtual and in-person care and recovery services.
Under the direction of Mayo Clinic physicians, advanced care at home offers comprehensive and restorative health care services including infusions, skilled nursing, medications, laboratory and imaging services, behavioral health, and rehabilitation services from a network of paramedics, nurses, and an ecosystem of support team members. This initiative, part of the Mayo Clinic Platform, brings these elements together for a positive care experience at home, combining technology, innovation, and clinical expertise to ensure that the needs of the patient come first.
“As a physician, I have always believed that patients should receive the right care, at the right time, in the right setting to restore wellness rapidly,” says John Halamka, MD, president, Mayo Clinic Platform. “During COVID-19, we’ve learned that patients expect more virtual and remote care than ever. The Mayo Clinic Platform, in collaboration with Medically Home, has assembled the technology and expertise to deliver high-quality, acute care in non-traditional settings like the home.”
The combination of patient demand for consumer-centered models, advanced care at home offerings, innovations in technology, regulatory flexibility, and the need for flexible capacity within the healthcare system is the impetus for this new care offering.
“The medical practice of the future will infuse technology and innovation with a human touch that continually enhances patient care, convenience, affordability, and provides better answers faster. Whether the patient is receiving care at one of our sites or in their home, Mayo Clinic will deliver a patient-centered care experience designed to meet each patient’s unique needs,” says Amy Williams, MD, executive dean for practice, Mayo Clinic.
Mayo Clinic selected Medically Home, a Boston-based technology-enabled services company, as its implementation partner for this program. Medically Home enables medical providers to shift advanced medical care to patients’ homes safely. It offers an integrated technology platform and network of in-home services that allow care directed by Mayo Clinic physicians and providers.
Patients who qualify and opt-in to this alternative care setting quickly transition from the hospital directly to the home. Having patients who can transition home more rapidly opens up resources to respond to other needs such as COVID-19 and other complex pressures on the healthcare system.
In July and August, Mayo Clinic will begin offering advanced care at home enrollment through initial implementations in Jacksonville, Fla. and Eau Claire, Wis. respectively.