NYU Langone—Long Island’s Home Hospital program treats 1,000th patient

Emil Pross thought for sure he’d be stuck in the hospital for a week. The 87-year-old Bethpage resident had a bad urinary tract infection and needed intravenous antibiotics.

But doctors at NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island had a better option.

Pross, a retired information technologist, this month became the 1,000th patient treated through the hospital’s Home Hospital program, which provides hospital-level care at home with 24/7 remote monitoring.

“I had terrific care,” said Pross, who went home after receiving thorough treatment in the emergency department. “A private nurse checked on me twice a day, and I knew a doctor was just a phone call away. I was amazed by the technology.”

The Home Hospital program was launched by the Mineola hospital in 2022, enabling patients diagnosed with certain conditions to recover at home while receiving around-the-clock tele-monitoring, in-person visits from medical staff when needed, and intravenous medication through an infusion pump. NYU-Langone—Long Island said the program has reported no cases of hospital-acquired infections or delirium, with patients ranging in age from 21 to 102.

“In the hospital, patients are often woken up throughout the night for a variety of reasons, so recovering at home can be a less stressful alternative,” said Jonathan Kelly, DO, medical director of the Home Hospital program. “With 24/7 remote monitoring, doctors can also make in-person house calls if necessary.”

After a week of treatment, Pross was discharged — from his own living room, hospital officials said. He quickly returned to his regular outdoor routine and said that if given the choice, he’d much rather recover at home than in a hospital.

_{Top photo: Emil Pross with field nurse Nicole Moawad, before he was discharged from his living room (courtesy photo).}