Reimagining Care Beyond Hospital Walls

Hospitals are a finite resource—but patient needs are not. This episode continues our multi-part series on taking medicine to where patients are—rather than making them come to us. From preventative care to pediatricians meeting families in their own environments, the series has explored how medicine is evolving beyond traditional settings. In this episode, we explore one of the most compelling—and long-overdue—ideas yet: care at home.

What Is Home-Based Medical Care?

Joined by Dr. Kelly Owen, Professor of Emergency Medicine at UC Davis and Medical Director for Express Care and Dispatch Health, the conversation dives into what home-based care really looks like—from urgent care at home to ED-to-home follow-ups and post-hospital discharge support designed to prevent readmissions.

A Patient-Centered Solution That Works

Through a powerful real-world case, the team illustrates how mobile medical units can deliver wraparound care—medications, follow-up appointments, and clinical evaluation—right in a patient’s living room, avoiding unnecessary hospital stays while improving outcomes and patient satisfaction.

Why This Model Matters Now

With emergency departments stretched thin, home-based care offers ways to:

• Reduce avoidable ED visits and hospitalizations
• Improve continuity of care after discharge
• Support vulnerable, homebound, or transportation-limited patients
• Deliver care that insurance covers and patients prefer

The model is compelling: high patient satisfaction, low ED escalation rates, and health care dollars saved—all while keeping patients at the center.

The Future of “Medicine on the Go”

As technology and remote monitoring continue to evolve, this episode makes the case that home-based care isn’t a niche experiment—it’s a scalable, sustainable future for emergency and outpatient medicine.

Tune in to hear how taking medicine to where patients are is transforming care—for the better.

Was this series helpful for you? What other topics would you like to see us cover? Let us know on social media @empulsepodcast or at ucdavisem.com

Hosts:

Dr. Julia Magaña, Professor of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at UC Davis

Dr. Sarah Medeiros, Professor of Emergency Medicine at UC Davis

Guests:

Dr. Kelly Owen, Professor of Emergency and Medical Director of Express Care and Dispatch Health at UC Davis

Resources:

‘The next frontier of emergency medicine’: House calls following emergency room

by Liam Connolly, April 30, 2024.

UC Davis Health embarks on innovative care at home journey

by Liam Connolly, July 18, 2023.

AMA’s Return on Health: Telehealth framework for practices.

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Thank you to the UC Davis Department of Emergency Medicine for supporting this podcast and to Orlando Magaña at OM Productions for audio production services.