BayCare Brings Virtual Hospital-Level Care to Patients at Home

CLEARWATER, Fla. (October 14, 2020) – An innovative health care offering from BayCare, BayCare@Home™, will allow patients to receive safe and effective hospital-level care in the comfort of their own homes. The program is the first by a health system in West Central Florida.

The BayCare@Home™ Virtual Hospital program, offered through BayCare HomeCare, provides 24/7 access to high-quality, acute-level care to patients with COVID-19, heart failure and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in the comfort of their own home. The service combines 24/7 support with in-person and virtual visits from experienced clinical teams.  

“We’re excited to bring this innovative service to patients who require acute care services that can be safely addressed in the home,” said Dr. Jacquelyn B. Cawley, vice president and chief medical officer for Ambulatory Care and Clinical Integration. “This service helps them receive hospital-level care in the comfort and safety of their own home rather than being hospitalized.” 

The program utilizes telemonitoring technology to remotely provide nursing support and daily visits by a physician or advanced care provider. The patients will receive in-person patient care where nurses will provide oxygen, infusions, IV hydration, physical therapy and respiratory therapy. BayCare’s HomeCare teams also work to seamlessly transition care to the patient’s primary care physician or specialist after being discharged from the program. 

The BayCare@Home™ program builds on successful efforts that debuted earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic, when BayCare utilized a similar model to successfully monitor COVID-19 patients after discharge from the emergency department or hospital. This model allowed patients to receive the necessary care and recover safely at home. 

“The service helps expand access to the right care, at the right time and in the right place for patients that need lower acuity hospital-level care” said Dr. Cawley. “We’re looking forward to bringing this new model to our system to help meet the needs of our community.” 

About BayCare Health System
BayCare is a leading not-for-profit health care system that connects individuals and families to a wide range of services at 15 hospitals and hundreds of other convenient locations throughout the Tampa Bay and central Florida regions. Inpatient and outpatient services include acute care, primary care, imaging, laboratory, behavioral health, home care, and wellness. Our mission is to improve the health of all we serve through community-owned, health care services that set the standard for high-quality, compassionate care. For more information, visit www.BayCare.org.