Chronic ventilator care: from hospital to home.

Abstract

For the three ventilator-dependent patients discharged most recently to their homes from the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, the cost of home care for the first month, including equipment purchases, averaged $12,880 less than hospital care. During the second month at home, the average savings rose to $24,380 each. The key components of successful transition from hospital to home care are the focus of this report.