Ochsner Health, a leading nonprofit healthcare provider in the Gulf South, announced impressive results from a recent partnership designed to deliver acute and transitional care services in the home to avoid low-acuity admissions from the Emergency Department (ED) and to help reduce readmissions for discharge from all units

Ochsner Health launched the Acute Care at Home™ program at Ochsner Medical Center- New Orleans in March of 2024 to enhance patient outcomes, streamline ED operational flow and observation unit throughput, shorten the length of stay, reduce unnecessary hospital utilization, and decrease readmissions. 

To accomplish these goals, the New Orleans-based hospital partnered with myLaurel, a home-based acute and transitional care company tailored to the needs of frail, elderly, and complex patients. The program has achieved significant early outcomes, preventing either initial admission or 15-day readmissions for 92% of patients referred to the program from the emergency department and observation units.

The success of this pilot lays the groundwork for expansion to other Ochsner facilities, as part of a broader initiative to scale Acute Care at Home across the Ochsner system.

Home health care has grown significantly in popularity in recent years, and many hospitals now offer or partner with home health agencies to provide services to patients after they are discharged. There are several reasons for this rise in popularity:

1. Aging Population:

• As the population ages, there is an increasing demand for long-term care that can be provided in the comfort of patients' homes. Older adults often prefer to recover or manage chronic conditions at home rather than in a hospital or nursing facility.

2. Cost-Effectiveness:

• Home health care is generally more affordable than inpatient care in hospitals or extended stays in nursing homes. Hospitals and health systems can save on costs while still providing high-quality care, which is appealing given the pressure to reduce healthcare spending.

3. Advances in Telemedicine:

• The rise of telehealth and remote monitoring technologies has enabled healthcare providers to offer continuous care at home. This is particularly helpful for managing chronic conditions, post-surgery recovery, and rehabilitation, allowing patients to stay connected with their care teams

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