Your own clothes, your own bed: UNC Health Advanced Care at Home shortens hospital stays, saves money
A new program of UNC Health allows many patients to leave the hospital earlier than they might have and receive acute level care at home. It’s a program that saves money for the patient and opens up critically needed bed space in the hospital.
Local UNC-TV legend Roy Underhill was recently a patient who benefited from the new program. His television show, "The WoodWright Shop," is still seen on public television stations across the country.
"[It was] on for 37 years. It’s one of the longest running programs on television," said Underhill, who also teaches students how to use traditional woodworking tools as opposed to power tools.
HIs students come to his woodwright school in Pittsboro, some from outside of the U.S. "In a class coming up, we have a student from Norway who has watched all the shows," said Underhill.
Less than a month ago, a kidney infection sapped the 70-year-old of his strength. "It’s known as sepsis, and it’s deadly," said Underhill.
He was in Emergency Care at UNC for 24 hours and looking at another three days in acute level care. However, Underhill was presented with a new option. He describes it this way: "They had a new program and said I could be at home and they would bring the hospital care to me!"
It’s called Advanced Care at Home, and it involves a system of in-home health monitoring, back-up power supplies and communication devices through a telephone as well as video through an iPad or even a button on a wristband.
"And so they are actually seeing someone either virtually or in-person six to seven times a day," said Ila Mapp, administrative director of the program at UNC Health.
She says national data shows patients in the program recover more quickly. "It allows patients to feel more comfortable, and it allows them to be more in control," said Mapp.
She adds, "It’s those patients who are not quite sick enough to be in the hospital, but are able to go home and still provide that acute care that they need."
She says patients who receive the at-home care are also less likely to acquire other hospital-based infections like MRSA or even COVID-19.
Underhill was quick to accept the offer of home care. He said, "You wear your own clothes, you are in your own bed and you’re just getting the medicine you need."
Underhill points out that it is also less expensive than staying in the hospital. "Freeing up a hospital bed, it’s saving money, you get well faster. What’s not to like," he said.
He’s also thrilled to be back in his own home as well as inside his woodwright school, sharing his old style wood-working talents with eager students.
