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HITH is defined as a 24‐hour, 7‐days‐a‐week service of “acute inpatient equivalent care, utilising highly skilled staff, hospital technologies, equipment, medication, and safety and quality standards, to deliver hospital‐level care within a person's place of residence or preferred (non‐hospital) treatment location”. HITH models vary in clinical governance, combination and frequency of in‐person or telehealth visits, patient selection and clinician staffing. When HITH substitutes for hospital location of care (admission avoidance, AA) are compared to early supported discharge (ESD) or other hospital outreach services, clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction are comparable or improved, and care is cost‐effective. However, evidence describing those patients for whom HITH is optimal and processes to recognise and respond to deteriorating HITH patients remains limited.

This MJA Perspective shares more.

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Authors: Mya Cubitt and Seok Lim

Article Type: Perspective