Ochsner Health may expand its hospital-at-home program throughout the entire health system after successfully piloting a program in New Orleans, the nonprofit healthcare provider said Tuesday.
Ochsner Health said in a news release the pilot, launched in March at Ochsner Medical Center-New Orleans, prevented either initial hospitalizations or 15-day hospital readmissions for 92% of the patients referred to the program through its emergency department and observation unit.
Related: Hospital-at-home programs hit speed bumps
The New Orleans-based health system offered the service through a partnership with myLaurel, a New York-based company that provides transitional and acute care to frail, elderly patients at home instead of a hospital. Patients received virtual and in-home visits from clinicians, along with lab work, medications, education about treatment plans and other services.
Ochsner said in the release that its investment arm, Ochsner Ventures, invested an undisclosed amount in myLaurel as part of a strategy to collaborate with companies that can address critical challenges for patients and care teams.
Ochsner Health is one of the largest health systems in the South with 46 hospitals and more than 370 health and urgent care centers.
