Salir
Vickie Kinnee (pictured above) didn't want to go to the hospital. She needed treatment for her heart problem but didn't want to be away from her family.
She had trouble breathing, and even walking to the bathroom was hard.
But the last thing she wanted to do was be in a strange place away from her family while she recovered. Kinnee is not alone.
A solution to a common problem
Most Americans would prefer to get care in their own homes. Thanks to new technology, it’s now possible for more people. Kaiser Permanente’s Advanced Care at Home program lets patients get care at home where they can recover and be with their loved ones.
“To be able to watch a TV show with my grandchild in his pajamas, to have him kiss me good night instead of being in a dark hospital room all by myself?” Kinnee remarked. “What’s better than that?”
How does Advanced Care at Home work?
With Advanced Care at Home, patients get high-quality, 24/7 care at home. Our remote care teams check their vital signs.
Nurses, nurse practitioners, and paramedics visit patients’ homes to provide care. They can do many tests like blood tests, X-rays, and ultrasounds.
“Receiving care at home offers proven health benefits. For example, patients are less likely to get certain infections. Plus, they get the healing power of being around their family, friends, and pets,” said Vivian Reyes, MD, national physician leader for Kaiser Permanente’s Advanced Care at Home program. “Access to immediate care is available at a member’s fingertips.”
Patients may qualify for the program if they have certain conditions like heart failure or pneumonia. Patients who are likely to need surgery at a moment’s notice are not good candidates.
The program is available in most Kaiser Permanente locations and is expected to be available soon everywhere Kaiser Permanente serves.
During Kinnee’s emergency room visit, her doctor told her that she was a good candidate for the program. She agreed to join, and her care team started planning her check-ins.
Fully prepared at home
Kinnee received a tablet, a blood pressure cuff, and a special device to connect directly with her nurses.
Our medical technology team set everything up for her.
“I felt prepared as soon as I got home with everything I needed,” she said. “And the medical technology team was there to talk me through every step of the way and make sure I was comfortable.”
She saw medical professionals daily, either in person, or on the tablet.
“When they came to check my vitals,” Kinnee recalled, “I felt so much more comfortable compared to being in a hospital room. It was one-on-one. To have that connection with a health care professional — that they’re caring about me and only me right now — that’s pretty special.”
A ‘pretty special’ connection
Kinnee quickly regained her strength and started playing games with her grandson. She said her fast recovery was because of the Advanced Care at Home program.
Learn more about Kaiser Permanente’s Advanced Care at Home program.