“They give you everything you need — at home.” 

A trip to the emergency room at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) for shortness of breath turned into a unique care experience for 72-year-old Barbara. Although she needed hospitalization to manage her symptoms, a traditional inpatient stay wasn’t her only option: a Recovery Care Coordinator from the UAMS Recovery Care at Home program introduced her to hospital-level care at home, explaining that she was a great candidate for the approach to care. 

Barbara says she didn’t hesitate. “I felt like I could get one-on-one care.  And that’s what I got — one-on-one care, and it was really good.”  

How Recovery Care at Home works 

Recovery Care at Home offers the same level of care as an inpatient admission, but in the comfort of patients’ homes. A registered nurse visited Barbara twice a day, and regular visits with the physician were conducted via video call. “They give you everything you need — at home,” explains Barbara. “They were punctual, came when they said they would and they took their time. The doctor was very patient and understanding and they listened.” 

Above and beyond  

Barbara emphasized that the care she received was above and beyond her expectations. “I could call if I needed to call them — or my daughter could call them. There were a couple of extra times they had to come back outside of the regular schedule and they did,” she says. “When they couldn’t draw my blood because I was a hard stick, they had someone who could come and help. But when it was hard even for him to get a stick, they called someone from the hospital to come and start the IV.” 

Along with the exceptional care, Barbara also shared that she felt much more comfortable and less self-conscious in her home environment. “I was able to take my oxygen to the bathroom, and I was able to shower,” she recalls. “I liked the fact that I could shower and get up and change for them to come treat me.” 

For others who are considering the program, Barbara encourages them to try it. “I think they would enjoy it better than being in a hospital bed,” she says. “They can get up, sit on the sofa, watch TV, have their own dinner. It’s really nice.   

 “It gave me excellent strength — I think I recovered better.”