“We’ve been thrilled to see the innovative services of Home Hospital expand to meet patient need, and now into the surgical world,” said Denise Gee, MD, clinical director of surgical services. “Steph has been a hugely integral part of that growth. Her competence, experience and passion provide invaluable leadership for Home Hospital’s APP surgery team. Our collaboration ensures the best of care options.”
Collaborating across interdisciplinary teams
Steph credits surgeon champions, such as Dr. Gee, who are rapidly advancing this innovative care model. “As a team, skilled APPs and providers are collaborating to think differently, learning to adjust protocols to deliver care in the best way for each patient situation. It’s fulfilling to see the progress our team is making every day.”
The collaboration has led to an ongoing exchange of knowledge. “There are opportunities for our APPs to learn from our brick-and-mortar peers through educational series and grand rounds, as well as for Home Hospital APPs to share unique experience gained in the field.” Steph has recently presented at Newton-Wellesley Grand Rounds and Salem Hospital Anesthesia Grand Rounds. Home Hospital is rapidly growing with close collaboration with Mass General Brigham’s revered academic medical centers and community hospitals. “Enterprise support of Home Hospital is strong,” Steph noted.
With remote monitoring, sophisticated telehealth technology, and multiple daily visits from clinicians, Home Hospital provides all the same world-class services a patient would receive during a traditional hospital stay, held to the same rigorous standards for quality. “It’s satisfying to be able to offer patients this level of care right in their own home — something they might never have imagined possible,” said Steph. “For instance, rather than staying in a brick-and-mortar hospital for several days, an eligible colorectal surgery patient could be transferred to Home Hospital the morning after surgery.”
The efficient and fast-paced methods of traditional surgical teams transition well into inpatient home care, which requires a unique blend of independence and collaboration. “Home Hospital surgery APPs work in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team to care for the patient at home, which includes the management of medications, IVs, diet advancement, labs, patient education etc. — and closely communicate with the surgeon, who is overseeing the patient's care,” said Steph.
“As an attending surgeon, I am deeply appreciative of Steph’s thoroughness and attention to detail when she is with a patient,” said Dr. Gee. “She and her colleagues are an extension of our eyes and ears on daily rounds and her team does a superb job. In addition, as lead surgery APP, Steph regularly asks for feedback from clinicians to continuously refine our processes and keep us on our patient-centered journey to optimize surgical care.”
Enhancing patient experience and patient/family engagement
When rounding on patients in their homes, Steph has enjoyed the opportunity to develop a deeper connection with them. “I have great conversations as I am assessing patients, who may feel more comfortable sitting on their living room couch and wearing their own clothes than in a hospital room,” said Steph. At the same time, Steph acknowledged, patients and families may feel a certain vulnerability opening their home up to providers, which she and her colleagues take care to respect.
A Home Hospital APP’s presence in the home offers the additional advantage of strengthening patient and family engagement. Home Hospital clinicians see firsthand the patient’s home environment and care resources. “For our surgery patients, I can walk them through exactly how to do drain care, together determining what room or tabletops might work best,” Steph explained. “My colleagues with congestive heart failure patients can provide more holistic care when they review a home pantry as part of their discussion of diet. Home Hospital provides unparalleled teaching opportunities.”
Delivering the right care in the right place for the patient
“I don’t ever mind getting stuck in a traffic jam if it means I can see a patient doing well in their home with their family sitting beside them,” she said. “That’s a good day at work for me. Home Hospital helps patients clinically improve in the right place for them, and APPs are essential to making that possible.”
Reflecting on the past year, Steph said, “I’ve always loved being a surgical PA, but the last year has been especially exciting and rewarding. There are challenges in building a program from the ground up, but the progress I see is real. It’s pioneering work that is so important for patients and hospitals, and I am loving the adventure. I’m ‘all in’ as an APP — being a part of the groundbreaking Home Hospital [Surgical] team that delivers the right care in the right place for the patient is 100% right for me.”
