business
House calls worth a visit, Australian study says
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 10, 2011
A report analyzing an Australian program providing medical care through house calls as an alternative to hospitalization -- a strategy employed under U.S. health system reform -- found that it could reduce costs while achieving similar health outcomes.
Researchers with Deloitte Access Economics in Barton, Australia, analyzed data on the country's Hospital in the Home program for the Hospital in the Home Society Australasia. The program achieved mortality and readmission rates similar to in-hospital care. Patient satisfaction was high, but the impact on health care costs varied by condition. For instance, the program was more expensive than usual care for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease but cheaper for venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolus or a knee replacement.
The authors cautioned that to achieve cost savings, patients must be chosen carefully with regard to health status and availability of others in the home to provide support. In addition, physicians and nurses can care for fewer patients in the home than in a hospital setting, which reduces productivity.
The full report is being used to argue for expansion of the program in Australia.
In the United States, Independence at Home, scheduled to launch Jan. 1, 2012, provides payment incentives for primary care teams that make house calls. They would receive a portion of the money saved by improving health outcomes and reducing preventable hospitalizations, readmissions and emergency department visits. The program, which is in the demonstration stage, is limited to 10,000 patients.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/10/10/bibf1010.htm.
