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A new study by the USC Schaeffer Center reveals that a majority of Americans find hospital-at-home care appealing and safe, highlighting its convenience, comfort, and effectiveness. Published in JAMA, the study shows that most respondents believe they would recover faster at home rather than in a hospital and feel secure being treated in their own environment.
Researchers emphasize the significance of these findings for policymakers as they consider extending a pandemic-era program that allowed hospitals to provide at-home care. “Patients, of course, want the best-quality care but often prefer to be at home, especially if technology allows them to work closely with their physician team toward recovery,” says Melissa A. Frasco, research scientist at the Schaeffer Center.
The study found that 82% of respondents felt comfortable managing medications at home, and 67% were willing to provide more in-depth care, such as wound care. Hospital-level care can often be provided at home for many patients with acute conditions using remote patient-monitoring tools, daily in-person or telehealth visits by clinicians, and in-home infusions. Previous studies have shown that such care can reduce readmissions and lower costs compared to traditional hospital care.
Using a sample of the Understanding America Study, researchers surveyed approximately 1,100 respondents about their preferences. The results indicated that 47% agreed that hospital-at-home care was an acceptable alternative to inpatient care. Only 17% felt negatively about hospital-at-home care’s merits, while 36% were neutral on the issue. Furthermore, 56% agreed—including 21% who strongly agreed—that people recover faster at home than in the hospital.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) temporarily authorized at-home care services during the COVID-19 pandemic under the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver. Congress extended the waiver through December 31, 2024, with a requirement that CMS comprehensively study care quality before approving reimbursements long-term. Currently, 322 hospitals across 37 states have been approved to provide at-home care.
“Our findings offer valuable information for policymakers and health systems as they navigate a new landscape of post-pandemic patient care,” says co-author Erin L. Duffy, director of research training at the Schaeffer Center. “Extending reimbursement for hospital-at-home care could go a long way toward reducing costs and improving outcomes, benefiting all parties involved.”
The study also found that the acceptability of hospital-at-home care did not vary across sociodemographics, health insurance coverage, health status, prior hospitalizations, or telehealth use. These insights underscore the broad appeal and potential of at-home care as a viable and effective alternative to traditional hospital settings.
As the healthcare landscape evolves post-pandemic, the preferences and comfort of patients and their families will be crucial in shaping future policies and care models. The growing acceptance of hospital-at-home care marks a significant shift towards more patient-centered and flexible healthcare solutions.
