Healing with Home Hospital: Frank's Journey After Weight Loss Surgery
Throughout his 54 years, Frank Norton struggled to manage his weight. His primary care doctor suggested visiting Massachusetts General Hospital's Weight Center to explore treatment options. There, he met with a multidisciplinary team that included a nutritionist, a psychologist, and other weight loss experts. He decided to have weight loss surgery, otherwise known as bariatric surgery.
About three weeks before his weight loss surgery, Frank met with Denise Gee, MD, surgical director of the Mass General Weight Center. She explained that after bariatric surgery, he would need one night of monitoring and recovery. He could stay at Mass General and go home the next day, but there was also another option: Mass General Brigham Home Hospital.
Dr. Gee, also the clinical director of surgical services at Mass General Brigham Home Hospital, explained that patients in this program receive expert hospital care at home from trusted providers. If he chose this option, Frank likely would be able to go home just hours after surgery. In addition, Dr. Gee would still oversee his care.
"Mass General Brigham Home Hospital has proven that the same high-quality clinical care of a traditional brick-and-mortar hospital can be safely delivered in a patient's home," Dr. Gee said. "An operation can change someone's life. We want to help them recover safely and quickly and get back on their feet within the comfort and familiarity of their home."
An established pathway for gastric sleeve recovery
Frank was scheduled for a sleeve gastrectomy. This type of weight loss surgery removes about 80% of the stomach.
A few years ago, Dr. Gee helped create a way for sleeve gastrectomy patients at Mass General to receive postsurgical hospital care at home. Now Mass General Brigham offers their Home Hospital care option to qualified patients who have undergone select types of surgeries at Mass General Brigham.
Surgical patients in the Home Hospital program remain under the care of their operating surgeon. They are seen daily—either in person or virtually—by a Home Hospital surgical advanced practice provider. In addition, they are seen twice a day by a Home Hospital paramedic and/or nurse, who can consult with the patient's Mass General Brigham surgeon via video call if needed. Outside of these visits, the Home Hospital team monitors the patient's vital signs remotely 24/7.
"After surgery, patients are often uncomfortable and in pain. For many, it's also a very emotional experience," Dr. Gee said. "It's a lot to go through. Being able to recover at home, with your family by your side, is a huge benefit. We can offer our Home Hospital to clinically appropriate patients, including those from historically marginalized communities."
Confidence in quality of Home Hospital care
Frank was generally in good health and had two adult children to care for him, so Dr. Gee believed he would be an ideal candidate for Home Hospital. As she described the "hospital at home" model, Frank liked what he heard.
"I was confident that the quality of care would be great and that they would keep me at Mass General after surgery if anything went wrong," he said. "Going home the same day, having my kids there, sleeping in my own bed—all those things were really appealing to me."
His sleeve gastrectomy started at 8:30 a.m., and Frank was home by 3 p.m. Over the next 24 hours, he had four visits from Home Hospital providers. The clinicians made sure his pain was under control, gave him fluids via an IV line, and set him up for remote monitoring. "The whole team was amazing," Frank said. "It really felt like they were looking after me."
One of the paramedics who cared for Frank was Shane McMahon, who had previously worked in emergency medicine.
"I go into the home, see how the patient lives and how they're doing, and interact with them and their family in a non-emergency environment. It's a nice feeling to help people with their recovery," he said. "It's the future of care."
Rave review from a satisfied patient
Frank's experience with Home Hospital lived up to his expectations. He appreciated having his children around and being in familiar surroundings.
Even before he was discharged from home hospital care, Frank was ramping up his physical activity. He started by walking laps around the dining room table and soon advanced to walks around the neighborhood.
Less than four months after his weight loss surgery, Frank is thrilled with the results. He feels much better, is off his blood pressure medication, and has lost over 70 pounds.
"Both Mass General's weight loss program and Mass General Brigham Home Hospital are such well-orchestrated programs. I can't find a flaw in either of them," he said. "If I have the chance to do Home Hospital again, I'd choose it every time."