Kent Hospital's at Home program is first in RI to offer hospital-caliber care
Kent Hospital's at Home program is the first in Rhode Island to officer hospital-quality care at home.
The program launched last January but has now ramped up with a full staff and a permanent mission: to keep those who usually require hospitalization, but are medically stable and have a good support system, at home.
Beverly Grimshaw, 87, of North Kingstown, is one of those patients.
Back in December, she had to call 911 for help.
"By the time I got to the hospital, I couldn't breathe," recalled Grimshaw.
She was having an episode of congestive heart failure.
"Our team met Beverly when she came to the emergency department," said Dr. Michael Lee, recently named medical director of the program.
In the past, Beverly would have been admitted, but this time, she was told she was a candidate for the Kent Hospital at Home program.
"It's a virtual in-patient unit. So, we're not inside the hospital," Lee said.
It's designed for patients like Grimshaw who are medically stable but require close monitoring.
"The doctor comes every day," Lee said.
Patients are also seen twice a day by a nurse under the program.
Patients wear a patch on their bare chest that connects to a tablet that links to the hospital, where vitals are closely monitored.
"Heart rate, oxygen levels, respiration and blood pressure," said Lee, of the vitals that are closely monitored in real time.
Dr. Ana Tuya Fulton, chief population officer at Kent Hospital, and the head of geriatrics and palliative care, said Grimshaw is an ideal candidate for the program.
"One of the target populations of patients that we take care of on these kinds of programs are really older adults like Beverly," Fulton said.
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"It does help with capacity issues at the hospital," she added.
The at Home program also cuts down on hospital-acquired infections.
Lee said is brings together the old - house calls, and the new - the latest in technology.
"Being in the home environment helped her heal that much more quickly," said Beverly's son, Gregg Grimshaw.
Grimshaw highly recommends the program to others.
"Nobody wants to second guess when the doctor tells you about this program, because it's top-notch," Grimshaw said.
The Kent Hospital at Home program is equipped to see 10 patients at a time virtually.
They're hoping to expand that.