Acute care hospitalization (ACH) among home care patients, can create emotional, financial and physical burden on patients and their families as well as burden the health delivery system.  Patients may need to go into the hospital while they are getting care.  In some instances, this may not be avoidable even with good home health care.  But in some instances, hospitalization can be avoided.  OFMQ is working with home health agencies throughout the state to reduce ACH when home care is a viable option. 

Acute care hospitalization is one of the publicly reported quality measures for home health agencies.  Improvement in ACH is demonstrated by a decrease in the percentage of patients who had to be admitted to the hospital.  Lower percentages are better.    Home Health agencies may help patients avoid ACH by adequately checkin the patient's health condition at each visit to detect problems early.  Agency staff must also assess the patient's ability to eat, drink, and take medication, and safety in their home.  Communication and coordination of care among patients, informal caregivers, doctors and other care providers is a critical element of reducing ACH.  

ACH Resources and Links

Access information, tools and resources on acute care hospitalization on MedQIC, the national quality improvement web site.