Skip to cookie consent Skip to main content

Debbie’s Home Hospital Patient Story

6 minute read
Debbie and John Perates at home.
Debbie Perates and her husband, John

Debbie Perates of Peabody, Massachusetts, has long felt a strong emotional connection with Salem Hospital. It's located just a few miles from her house, and she and her family have received care there many times.

During a recent stay at Salem, Debbie learned about a care model that would allow her to go home to complete her hospitalization: Mass General Brigham Home Hospital. The service delivers expert, high-quality care in the comfort of the patient's home.

"I had been in the hospital for a few days, so I was about ready to go home," Debbie said. "It was hard for my family to come see me, and my daughters didn't want to bring their children into the hospital. I wanted to be back in my own bed and be able to see my grandkids."

Diverticulitis flareup leads to hospitalization

After having odd pains near her belly one day, Debbie went to see Ernesto DaSilva, MD, her primary care doctor at Mass General Brigham Healthcare Center (Lynn). When he pressed on her side, she felt intense pain. He referred her to Salem for an imaging test to see what was wrong.

At Salem, the scan showed that Debbie had acute diverticulitis. This occurs when small, bulging pouches in the wall of the colon become infected or inflamed. She was prescribed pain medications and a diet of clear liquids, light-colored gelatins, and tapioca pudding. Pretty soon, she felt better again.

Nine months later, she had another flareup. This time, she had to be hospitalized for treatment. By day four, her condition had improved enough that she was given the option of entering Home Hospital. As a member of the administrative staff explained how the service works, Debbie knew she would be in good hands. She agreed to the plan and prepared to go home.

"When we pulled into the driveway, three cars were already there," Debbie said. "A nurse helped me out of the car and walked me inside. Right away, the technical team set up a tablet and put on an armband so my vital signs could be monitored remotely. Everyone was not only extremely proficient but also so warm and caring."

Skilled professionals providing care in the home

Home Hospital patients typically receive two visits a day from some combination of paramedics, nurses, and advanced practice providers, or APPs (nurse practitioners and physician assistants). Mass General Brigham doctors are also available for remote consultation if necessary.

"If a doctor is seeing the patient virtually, they can't hear what the lungs sound like or feel the swelling in the legs through a computer screen," said Charlene Van Cott, a Home Hospital medic who cared for Debbie. "Those of us in the field serve as the eyes, ears, and hands for the doctors and sometimes the APPs."

Home Hospital medics and nurses share many skills, such as setting up intravenous (IV) access, administering medications, obtaining electrocardiograms (EKGs), and caring for wounds. In Debbie's case, her team's main responsibility was managing her IV antibiotics.

Charlene, who completed two combat tours in Afghanistan and has served in the Army Reserve for 14 years, joined Home Hospital two and a half years ago. Previously, she responded to emergency calls, transporting injured patients to hospitals. But the appeal of bringing medicine into the patient's home, as was common decades ago, inspired her to change her focus.

"Answering 911 calls involves making quick decisions and getting the patient to the emergency room, but there's never any follow-up," Charlene said. "Home Hospital allows me to see the patient in their home, where they feel safe and at ease. And there's plenty of time to have face-to-face conversations, sometimes over multiple days, so you can really understand how they're feeling and tailor their care accordingly."

Debbie appreciated her Home Hospital experience, which enabled her to be with her husband, John, and their beloved Maine Coon cat, Nugget. She also got to take visits from two of her daughters and their grandchildren while occasionally relaxing outside on the back deck.

"I'm in love with Home Hospital," she said. "I've always had good care at Salem Hospital, but nothing beats being at home. The health care professionals who came here, and their compassion and willingness to be by your side to help you get well, were phenomenal."

An ongoing journey back to health

Debbie was discharged from Home Hospital after three days. Unfortunately, a second diverticulitis flareup required another hospitalization less than two months later. After a few days at Salem, she had a four-day stay in Home Hospital, this time needing only acetaminophen for pain management. She was thrilled that Charlene returned as part of her care team.

Unfortunately, Debbie's journey with diverticulitis is not yet over. Despite drinking a lot of water and adhering to a special diet, she has had two more flareups. She is seeing a gastroenterologist at Salem, Joshua Namias, MD, while awaiting further testing to determine whether she needs surgery.

While she's not yet as healthy as she would like, Debbie is grateful for the many benefits of receiving care through Home Hospital.

"I want to thank the Home Hospital staff and Mass General Brigham for providing this service," she said. "From my point of view, it's a five-star offering that brings peace of mind to patients like me and our families."

I'm in love with Home Hospital. I've always had good care at Salem Hospital, but nothing beats being at home. The health care professionals who came here, and their compassion and willingness to be by your side to help you get well, were phenomenal.

Debbie Perates

Home Hospital patient

An ongoing journey back to health

Debbie was discharged from Home Hospital after three days. Unfortunately, a second diverticulitis flareup required another hospitalization less than two months later. After a few days at Salem, she had a four-day stay in Home Hospital, this time needing only acetaminophen for pain management. She was thrilled that Charlene returned as part of her care team.

Unfortunately, Debbie's journey with diverticulitis is not yet over. Despite drinking a lot of water and adhering to a special diet, she has had two more flareups. She is seeing a gastroenterologist at Salem, Joshua Namias, MD, while awaiting further testing to determine whether she needs surgery.

While she's not yet as healthy as she would like, Debbie is grateful for the many benefits of receiving care through Home Hospital.

"I want to thank the Home Hospital staff and Mass General Brigham for providing this service," she said. "From my point of view, it's a five-star offering that brings peace of mind to patients like me and our families."

Learn more about Mass General Brigham Home Hospital