Pilot Provides Home Hospital Pathway to Veterans Experiencing Homelessness

Mass General Brigham’s Home Hospital and Ariadne Labs, in collaboration with the New England Center and Home for Veterans (NECHV), has launched a home hospital pathway for veterans experiencing homelessness. This is the first effort in the country to test the provision of acute medical treatment from a housing partner’s residence rather than a brick-and-mortar facility, officials with Mass General Brigham (MGB) said.

Through the pathway, eligible residents of NECHV’s Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Safe Haven, which provides on-site support services for veterans with chronic medical or behavioral health conditions, will have access to hospital-level care from providers in their Safe Haven residences.

Individuals experiencing homelessness face disproportionately high rates of health conditions—such as diabetes, heart disease and HIV/AIDS—often three to six times higher than that of the general population. Without treatment plan adherence, these conditions will eventually require acute medical attention.

Mass General Brigham’s Home Hospital and Ariadne Labs, in collaboration with the New England Center and Home for Veterans (NECHV), has launched a home hospital pathway for veterans experiencing homelessness. This is the first effort in the country to test the provision of acute medical treatment from a housing partner’s residence rather than a brick-and-mortar facility, officials with Mass General Brigham (MGB) said.

Through the pathway, eligible residents of NECHV’s Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Safe Haven, which provides on-site support services for veterans with chronic medical or behavioral health conditions, will have access to hospital-level care from providers in their Safe Haven residences.

Individuals experiencing homelessness face disproportionately high rates of health conditions—such as diabetes, heart disease and HIV/AIDS—often three to six times higher than that of the general population. Without treatment plan adherence, these conditions will eventually require acute medical attention.

This pathway has the potential to transform acute care for patients experiencing homelessness. When these patients need hospital-level care, they often lose access to important wrap-around services, lose their belongings and even lose their bed, which forces them to restart the housing process.

“Those in our Safe Haven program are the most vulnerable and challenged veterans we serve,” said Andy McCawley, president and CEO of NECHV. “The comprehensive on-site care offered by the home hospital program will help prevent the need for hospitalization and maintain their physical well-being.”

MGB Home Hospital patients receive comprehensive treatment that involves at least two daily in-home visits from a paramedic or nurse and at least one daily visit (virtual or in-person) from a physician or advanced practice provider. Additionally, patients benefit from a 24/7 remote monitoring platform that tracks vital signs and facilitates continuous communication with their clinical team. This comprehensive approach allows patients to receive the care they need when they need it and has been shown to reduce hospital readmissions and improve physical activity.

“The home hospital care model offers an opportunity to promote health equity,” said David Levine, clinical director for research and development for MGB Healthcare at Home. “By bringing high-quality care directly to veterans experiencing homelessness—a historically marginalized population facing significant barriers—we can ensure they receive the necessary care and support, ultimately transforming their health outcomes and bridging the gap in care access. This program will help inform future implementation practices for providing care to this population.”