Hospital at Home for the Holidays—UR Medicine’s Program Redefines Inpatient Care in Monroe County
When Donald Bilgore, aged 98, arrived at Strong Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department four days before Thanksgiving, he was having difficulty breathing. He was diagnosed with influenza, and breathing treatments quickly made him more comfortable. After a brief stay in the ED, he was recommended for continued treatment through UR Medicine’s Hospital at Home program.
The program allowed Bilgore to return to his home in Pittsford, sleep in his own bed, continue receiving hospital-level care—and, most importantly, enjoy the holiday feast surrounded by loved ones. Bilgore’s care included twice-daily nursing visits, daily virtual check-ins with a physician, IV medications, breathing treatments, supplemental oxygen, and in-home physical and occupational therapy evaluations. He was discharged on Dec. 1, and on Dec. 14, he celebrated his 99th birthday.
“For many patients, the hardest part of being hospitalized is what they miss at home,” said Kathy Parrinello, president and CEO of Strong Memorial and Highland hospitals. “Hospital at Home allows us to provide the same level of care while keeping patients connected to the people and moments that matter most. In Mr. Bilgore’s case, that meant spending Thanksgiving with his family, and that’s incredibly meaningful.”
“Being able to care for patients like Mr. Bilgore at home, while continuing hospital-level treatment, is a powerful example of what this program makes possible,” said Justin Hopkin, MD, chief of hospital medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center and the Hospital at Home program. “It allows us to treat acute illness safely without keeping patients in the hospital longer than necessary, while helping them recover in a more comfortable and familiar setting.”
Hospital at Home is a care model being adopted by health systems across the country, and UR Medicine is the first in Monroe County to offer it. The program is not an early discharge pathway or a substitute for home care, but an alternative to traditional hospitalization, supported by a dedicated clinical team delivering hospital-level treatment in the home. By caring for eligible patients outside the hospital, Hospital at Home helps ease inpatient crowding, preserves capacity for patients with more complex needs and improves patient experience and recovery.