How Novant Health is addressing Covid-related capacity issues at hospitals

Novant Health has launched an at-home care program to navigate the growing number of hospitalized Covid-19 patients.

The program, COVID Care at Home, will move eligible hospital patients back to their homes with on-demand virtual care, including appointments and support. Patients will be guided on how to access the program and take home the necessary equipment, such as a pulse oximeter to monitor oxygen levels.

Patients are closely monitored. A virtual visit is scheduled within the first 24 hours, followed by ongoing meetings with either primary care providers or the virtual care team. Doctors can refer patients to the hospital or to a specialist, if needed.

Dr. Margaret Lozovatsky, chief health informatics officer at Novant, said the program has been in development through the pandemic as a way to provide care in a more comfortable setting.

"We really see this as a win-win for our patients and for our hospitals," Lozovatsky said. "The need really arose more as the surge happened with the Delta strain. However, this was something that was used earlier in the pandemic, as well, during some of the previous surges."

More than 50 patients have now participated. Novant piloted the program with 22 patients across its footprint before fully launching it on Sept. 1.

There are more than 3,200 people hospitalized with Covid-19 in North Carolina, with 860 of those in intensive care units, according to state Department of Health and Human Services data. About 82% of the state's available ventilators are in use. Most Covid-19 patients in this latest surge have been unvaccinated.

Earlier this month, representatives from Charlotte's largest hospital systems pleaded with the public to get vaccinated. Mecklenburg County is at a 55% rate for fully vaccinated residents. Nearly 60% have had at least one dose, according to DHHS data.

Novant's hospitals, in general, haven't yet reached capacity, Lozovatsky said, but there has been a significant surge across all of its markets.

The at-home program will help relieve capacity concerns at hospitals by freeing up more beds. Providers can also intervene earlier on problems and reduce the likelihood for readmittance, Lozovatsky said.

She said Novant wants to grow the at-home program and have more participants, even beyond Covid-19.

"There are definitely opportunities to look at providing similar care for other diagnoses. We are currently exploring them and hope to expand these types of services in the future," Lozovatsky said.

In early 2020, Charlotte-based Atrium Health launched a similar hospital-at-home program. It is organized into two virtual floors based on severity of the illness. Tens of thousands of patients have since participated. A more specialized setup was also launched for patients at Levine Cancer Institute.