07/09/2025
Rick, an Eleva, Wisconsin, resident, has a compromised immune system after battling cancer, so even minor illnesses can quickly become serious. Earlier this year, when he started feeling sick, a trip to urgent care led to the Emergency Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia and hypoxia and admitted overnight.
"After spending one night in the hospital, a nurse came in and told me about a program they offer where they could bring the hospital to my home," says Rick. "When I heard that, I told her, 'Oh yeah â I'm in, let's do it."
Rick was placed in the Advanced Care at Home program and equipped with a technology kit set up by paramedics, which includes a Bluetooth-enabled pulse oximeter, scale and blood pressure cuff. He was also given a tablet that allows 24/7 access to the virtual nursing team and outlines his upcoming in-home visits.
Being back at home allowed Rick to fight his illness in a familiar setting, and the easy setup also allowed him to work through treatment.
"The team was very thorough in their instructions when they were setting up the equipment, and it did not feel overwhelming at all," Rick says. "They were straightforward, kept it simple, and it was very easy to understand."
While on Advanced Care at Home service, Rick received virtual nursing visits and also had in-home visits from paramedics and phlebotomists, a visit from his advanced practice professional and a discharge completed by his nurse.
"Everyone who came to my house in person and virtually was very professional. They explained what they were doing and made me feel comfortable," Rick says. "My care team was phenomenal."
Learn more about how Mayo Clinicâs Advanced Care at Home is helping patients like Rick: https://mayocl.in/3Gr1kub