Cost effectiveness of home health care as an alternative to inpatient care.

This study of a sample of patients discharged from the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater St. Louis (VNA) focused on the extent to which VNA services were used as an alternative to institutional care. Based on physician estimates, patients averaged 18 fewer days in the hospital due to home care, saving more than $3,300 per patient. Utilization patterns are discussed for patients grouped by age, diagnosis, payment source and disposition upon discharge. Variations observed suggest valuable avenues for additional investigation into the types of patients for whom home care is most likely to be an appropriate alternative to hospital care.