New Open-Source Resources Aim to Scale Hospital-at-Home Programs
Free tools from DiMe, CTA, and UMass Chan aim to make hospital-at-home programs sustainable and scalable across the healthcare ecosystem
The Connected Health Collaborative Community (CHcc) has released a suite of open-source resources to support the implementation and scale of hospital-at-home (HaH) programs across the U.S. healthcare system. The resources aim to solidify HaH as a sustainable and high-quality care model amid shifting policy and payment landscapes.
Co-hosted by the Digital Medicine Society (DiMe) and the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), and supported by UMass Chan Medical School’s Program in Digital Medicine as the founding Impact Sponsor, CHcc is an ongoing cross-sector collaboration working to solve fragmentation in connected health and advance digitally-enabled care. Current CHcc initiatives include supporting hospital-at-home programs and building a smarter, more connected ecosystem so older adults can live safely and independently in their place of choice.
Hospital-at-home programs have been shown to improve patient outcomes, reduce complications, and lower costs by delivering acute care in patients’ homes. Yet despite their promise, many HaH programs remain vulnerable due to unclear reimbursement pathways and the temporary nature of current policy frameworks.
“Hospital-at-home is not just a cost-saving measure, it’s a sustainable model that protects patient care, supports frontline staff, and ensures communities continue to receive the care they need,” said Benjamin Vandendriessche, Chief Delivery Officer at DiMe. “At a time when government funding is constrained, these programs offer a lifeline for preserving essential services.”
What the Tools Include
The newly released open-source resources are designed to help stakeholders—from hospital leaders to policymakers—overcome common implementation hurdles and secure long-term viability for HaH initiatives. Key tools include:
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Patient Journey Map: Guides users through the entire patient experience in HaH, offering insights into clinical services, workflows, and technologies.
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Technical & Operational Considerations: Offers best practices for building the infrastructure to scale HaH programs securely and sustainably.
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Program Evaluation & Reimbursement Pathways: Helps users select performance measures, demonstrate ROI, and navigate reimbursement options, including value-based care models.
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Pillars of Successful Implementation: Identifies five key success factors for HaH programs, supported by case studies and evidence-based strategies.
“Having access to free, expert-developed resources is invaluable for designing scalable, compliant programs,” said Dr. Sarah Schenck, Executive Director of ChristianaCare’s Center for Virtual Health. “These tools empower health systems to improve outcomes, support staff, and ensure reimbursement sustainability.”
A Step Toward a More Connected Health System
The CHcc release aligns with a broader push to build a more integrated health system that supports care delivery in the home. According to a recent joint report by AARP and CTA, 89% of Americans aged 50 and older want to age safely and independently at home. CHcc’s upcoming project focuses on supporting aging in place using connected health technologies and digitally enabled care—of which hospital-at-home is a key component.
With these new resources, CHcc hopes to catalyze scalable HaH programs that are clinically sound, financially viable, and patient-centered—while paving the way for broader innovations in connected care.
