Skip The ER Wait: Hospital-Level Care At Home For Seniors

In this episode I talk with Dr. KevinMunjal, Chief Medical Officer of Care To You, about bringing ER andhospital-level care into the home. The conversation covers real patientexamples, how shared decision-making works in the home, and why this modelcould become the new standard for urgent and acute care. Timeline  00:00– Opening: The idea of hospital-at-home as the future standard of care 02:15– Kevin’s background: ER physician, EMS medicine, Mount Sinai 05:05– Why home care matters: avoiding delirium, infection, and hospital cascade forseniors 10:02– Cost comparison: hospital-at-home is 1/2 to 1/3 the cost to payers 13:38– When to still go to the ER: chest pain, stroke symptoms, life-threateningemergencies 18:20– Concurrent telehealth with attending physicians on every visit  22:05– Care team structure: field clinicians, nurses, care coordinators, dispatch 27:05– Who is a good fit for hospital-at-home vs. urgent care vs. ER  30:06– How Care To You differs from other home health services  36:07– In-home imaging and results follow-up process 48:32– Post-acute follow-up: remote monitoring, daily calls, transition to primarycare  52:16– How primary care doctors can use Care To You for patients57:22 – Kevin’s motivation: building amodel from the ground up 59:01– Final takeaway: know this option exists before a crisis hits  01:00:08– Contact info: website, phone, registration process 5 Key Takeaways  1.You’re in control in your home Care is delivered on your turf. Cliniciansexplain tests, medications, and options, then let you and your family drive thedecision. No surprises, no rushing.  2.Shared decision-making matters For many older adults, comfort and stayinghome matter more than aggressive intervention. Care To You presentsrisks/benefits and aligns care with patient goals, including DNH/DNRpreferences.  3.Follow-through sets them apart High Net Promoter Scores of 80-90+ comefrom more than home visits. They follow up on labs, make sure prescriptions arefilled, and confirm referrals and home care are set up.  4.Real cases show it works Example: A 100-year-old with a UTI wastreated at home with IV antibiotics, fluids, and remote monitoring. She avoideda 3-day hospital stay and recovered at home.  5.It’s a middle option between urgent care and the ER If it’s not life-threatening but you can’twait for primary care, Care To You can run labs, imaging, and start treatmentin 2-4 hours at home. Links and Resources Care 2 YouWebsite: http://www.care2u.comPhone: (833)433-2273  Leave The Key HomebuyersWebsite:https://leavethekey.com/seniors Phone: (631)380 – 4262 Final ThoughtsHospital-at-home isn’t just convenient.it’s safer, cheaper, and more personal for the right patients. If you care foraging parents or work with seniors, knowing about Care To You ahead of time cansave you hours in the ER, reduce stress, and keep loved ones comfortable athome. The goal isn’t to replace hospitals, but to use them only when trulyneeded.