Hospital at Home program treats pre- and post-surgery patients

Two weeks after receiving an abrupt surgery to treat her bowel cancer, Lulu Leathley is recovering and being cared for in her own bed.

“I was able to be at home and have Christmas with my family,” Leathley told The Leader Spirit.

The Hospital at Home (HAHP) program was introduced by Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) in 2024.

This year, the program expanded to include some pre- and post-surgery patients like Lulu, who are located near the hospital.

“The nurses connect, and the doctors connect with the patients routinely and regularly throughout the day, so if there are any concerns, the nurses will know about it,” said Pam Papp, director of operations at the Vancouver General Hospital HAHP.

Patients can be recommended for the program by their doctor and have 24/7 nurse access virtually or over the phone.

According to VCH, the program has treated 600 patients and opened approximately 6,000 hospital bed days.

The BC Nurses Union says patient satisfaction is typically very high with these programs, which provide relief to a severely strained system.

“This does seem like a bold expansion, and I would say a guarded optimism around it,” said Adriane Gear, president of BC Nurses’ Union.

The program that sees a rare agreement from both sides of the legislative floor.

“I think it’s a good idea. I think people often, if it’s a low acuity surgery or postoperatively they are stable, patients are often better at home,” said B.C. Conservative health critic Anna Kindy.

As the program continues, patients like Lulu are finding that the road to recovery leads to home.