Sanford Health Fargo Becomes First In North Dakota To Offer Hospital At Home Program

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — The Hospital at Home program will serve patients in who live within 25 miles of the Fargo-Moorhead area.

“There’s only a limited number of in-patient beds in the hospital. So if you can take care of some of these patients at their homes safely, we can open up beds in the hospital for more sicker patients. That way we’re providing right care for patients at the right place, at the right time,” said Gopi Paladugu, Hospitalist at Sanford Health.

Hospital at Home was first established in 1995 at Johns Hopkins University. Since the program has been around it has shown to improve patient care and experiences.

“We are able to take care of these patients in the environment they’re familiar with surrounded by their loved ones. And they’re able to sleep in their own bed and watch their own TV, spend time with their pets you know even when they’re home,” said Paladugu.

Eligible patients would be anyone 18 years and older and can receive treatment from home until discharge. The program would also include up to two in-person caregiver visits a day and transportation may be provided to the hospital.

“And then is always available by phone for any questions or concerns. And then we use TytoCare technology to do a video visit with the provider on a daily basis. And then of course if needed we can certainly do one if the patient were to need it in between those times,” said Kara Leopold, Program Manager for Hospital at Home.

The program has been running since December. The program is able to care for up to seven patients at a time. Leopold hopes they are able to expand the program and be able to treat up to sixteen patients.

For more information on the program you can visit Sanford Health’s website.