People who have acute medical or surgical conditions and whose clinical condition is considered stable and safe can spend their hospitalization, or part of it, in their own home, surrounded by their family. They are still considered hospitalized as they would be in hospital and have the same priority access to care and services as during a traditional hospitalization in a hospital centre, in particular for diagnostic examinations and consultations in specialized medicine.

The eligibility criteria are determined by each health facility depending on the medical specialties participating in the physical health home hospitalization program.

Care and services offered by the virtual care unit

Patients have virtual access to a dedicated nursing team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The main care and services offered to patients hospitalized at home are as follows:

  • clinical monitoring
  • remote health assessment and monitoring through the use of connected medical devices
  • follow-up of authorized and prescribed treatments
  • physical and moral assistance

The length of stay is assessed daily based on the patient’s clinical condition. When the situation requires it, home visits are offered by home support services.

Advantages of home hospitalization

Home hospitalization has several advantages:

  • timely access to care;
  • lower risk of contracting a health care–associated infection;
  • a better experience;
  • a decrease in the physical, mental and social consequences associated with inactivity during hospitalization, often observed in older adults.

Home hospitalization should also help reduce congestion in emergency rooms and hospital care units.

Health care facilities offering home hospitalization in physical health

Home hospitalization will be implemented gradually in 13 health care facilities in Quebec by the spring of 2025. The first ten projects will be presented in Greater Montreal and the Capitale‑Nationale region in 2024.

In 2024, the following hospitals will offer the home hospitalization program:

  • Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal
  • Centre multiservices de santé et de services sociaux de Sainte-Agathe (CISSS des Laurentides)
  • Hôpital Charles-Le Moyne (CISSS de la Montérégie-Centre)
  • Hôpital de l’Enfant-Jésus (CHU de Québec-Université Laval)
  • Hôpital de la Cité-de-la-Santé (CISSS de Laval)
  • Hôpital général de Montréal et Hôpital Royal-Victoria (Centre universitaire de santé McGill)
  • Hôpital général du Lakeshore (CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal)
  • Hôpital général juif (CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal)
  • Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont (CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal)
  • Hôpital Pierre-Le Gardeur (CISSS de Lanaudière)

In the spring of 2025, the following hospitals will be added:

  • Hôpital Anna-Laberge (CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest)
  • Hôpital de Verdun (CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal)
  • Hôpital Notre-Dame (CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal)
  • Hôpital Pierre-Boucher (CISSS de la Montérégie-Est)
  • Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis (CISSS de Chaudière-Appalaches)