BREAKING: New research confirms that hospital-level care at home is revolutionizing health outcomes for rural patients. A study conducted by investigators from Mass General Brigham and Ariadne Labs has shown that innovative home hospital care significantly improves patient experiences and physical activity levels, addressing critical healthcare access issues in rural areas.
With over 150 rural hospital closures since 2010, access to healthcare has become increasingly challenging for the one in five Americans living in rural regions. This urgent study, published in JAMA Network Open, highlights a feasible solution to the crisis. Patients who would typically require inpatient care for acute conditions can now receive treatment in their homes, improving both accessibility and satisfaction.
Dr. David Levine, Clinical Director of Research & Development at Mass General Brigham Healthcare at Home, emphasized the need for change: “Rural healthcare is in a crisis, and we need to think differently. Hospital-level care delivered in patients’ homes has improved healthcare delivery in urban settings but may fill an even greater need in rural areas.”
The randomized controlled trial involved 161 adults needing inpatient care for conditions such as infections and heart failure. Participants were recruited from three healthcare facilities: Blessing Hospital in Illinois, Hazard Appalachian Regional Healthcare in Kentucky, and Wetaskiwin Hospital in Canada. They were assigned to either traditional hospital care or the innovative home hospital model featuring twice-daily in-home visits from healthcare professionals.
Innovative technologies played a crucial role in this model. For example, a wireless sticker replaced traditional telemetry systems for continuous monitoring, and intravenous infusions were administered through portable pumps that fit in a fanny pack. Remarkably, the costs for home hospital care were comparable to traditional hospital stays, with a staggering 27% lower cost for patients transferred home after less than three days of conventional care.
The results are compelling: home hospital patients were significantly more active, averaging 700 more steps per day than their hospital counterparts. They reported an impressive satisfaction score of 88.4, nearly double the 45.5 score of those receiving traditional care.
As rural healthcare continues to face challenges, researchers are investigating further impacts of home hospital care on movement and caregiver experiences. Plans are underway to develop a mobile clinic housed in an electric vehicle, capable of delivering hospital-level care to any rural area in the U.S.
“We hope this work can spur patients, clinicians, and healthcare leaders in rural areas to advocate for and establish home hospital programs,” Dr. Levine noted. “Those areas that may have lost their hospitals can create home hospital initiatives that are less expensive and employ local clinicians.”
This groundbreaking research offers hope for addressing the rural healthcare crisis, encouraging communities to take action. The study acknowledges that when patients express a desire for certain care models, those models can indeed come to fruition.
Stay tuned for further developments as this story unfolds, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions in healthcare delivery. For more details, refer to the study: Levine DM et al. Hospital-Level Care at Home for Adults Living in Rural Settings, JAMA Network Open (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.45712.
