Home Hospital Programs in Rural Areas See Good Results

In recent years, health systems have launched hospital-at-home programs, but they’re typically in urban or suburban areas.

But a new study of hospital-at-home programs in rural areas finds encouraging results. Researchers say the findings suggest expanding programs to deliver acute care at home can aid rural communities, where hospitals have struggled mightily in recent years.

Researchers from Mass General Brigham and Ariadne Labs performed the study, which was published this morning by Jama Network Open. They say it’s the first study to examine hospital-at-home programs in rural communities.