When Terry Cunningham felt sick on Tuesday and found himself in the hospital on Wednesday, he didn’t think it would be possible to attend his daughter’s wedding that Saturday.
He was septic from open wounds on his foot that needed immediate treatment or there would be risk of amputation. While hospitalized, Cunningham needed pain management meds, antibiotics and skilled wound cleaning. The likelihood of walking his daughter down the aisle didn’t look promising.
He originally asked for a “day pass” so he wouldn’t miss his daughter’s wedding, but instead Avera Medical Group Infectious Disease Specialist, Jose Saurez, MD, told Terry that he may be a good candidate for Avera’s Hospital@Home program.
What Is Hospital@Home?
Hospital@Home is supported by Avera@Home and gives patients the high quality care of an Avera hospital in the comfort of their own home with services like daily registered nurse visits and remote patient monitoring.
The Hospital@Home program is the best thing since sliced bread. I could go home and get my pain managed there and just be in an easier atmosphere.
“I couldn’t believe how much of a difference it made just to be at home,” Cunningham said.
His health care team made the transition to home easy as they provided him with a tablet for remote patient monitoring. If he had questions, all he had to do was reach out via the tablet or call on his cell phone. “I don’t see how anybody can go wrong using this program, it’s a great way to save hospital beds and it was so easy to stay in touch with my health care team,” Cunningham noted.
The Right Care in the Right Place
The success of the program can be attributed to the people who help manage it. Cunningham’s outstanding and dedicated health care team made all the difference. The doctors and nurses were all very perceptive to his needs and could see things that would make his life easier.
“I was too stubborn and didn’t want a wheelchair,” said Cunningham, “but I’m glad they persevered and made suggestions.”
His nurse went “above and beyond” with her visits and helped him go to the bathroom and even noticed that his elevated heart rate could be aided with a new medication. “I didn’t even think of that,” Terry said, “they truly care about people.” He also worked with Cindy Kannenburg, Nurse Manager, and said “she knew how to get me out of the way of myself and was passionate about educating me.”
Thanks to his recovery at home and advice and pain management from his health care team, Cunningham was able to attend his daughter’s wedding. The wheelchair came in handy for the long day since he couldn’t bear weight on his good leg for long. In the end, Cunningham was there to walk his daughter down the aisle.
“I had a boot on one foot, and I had to limp for a bit, but I was there! My whole family was so appreciative,” he said.
Innovation in Action
The Hospital@Home program launched in September 2021 as a way to provide acute care services at home and can be particularly beneficial to vulnerable patients, including those who are immunocompromised.
This innovative Medicare-approved program was born during the pandemic out of necessity to address hospital capacity issues by bringing safe and effective acute care home to patients.
“Across the Avera footprint, our hospitals are experiencing never-before-seen capacity challenges. The Hospital@Home program is helping to relieve a small portion of that pressure, by providing high quality hospital care where patients are most comfortable: in their own homes,” said Rhonda Wiering, Vice President of Clinical Growth and Innovation, Avera@Home.
The Hospital@Home program provides care to patients within an approximately 30-minute radius of Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.
