MedStar Health has partnered with DispatchHealth to bring follow-up care to your home post-discharge from the hospital or ED. This recovery care service helps ensure a smooth and safe transition from our facility to your home.
How it works
- MedStar Health provider requests care: In partnership with DispatchHealth, MedStar Health arranges a visit to your home following discharge from a MedStar Health Emergency Department or Hospital. Your provider has referred you based on clinical, geographic and insurance criteria to ensure that you are eligible.
- Get care at home: Experienced medical providers arrive within 24-72 hours after your discharge to provide care. Each team includes a nurse practitioner or physician assistant, along with a medical technician. An on-call emergency medicine physician is always available by phone for consultations. Our team will arrive in a clearly marked DispatchHealth vehicle, so you know who they are right away.
- We take care of the rest: DispatchHealth will call in any prescriptions you might need, update your doctor, and work directly with your insurance to process billing.
Frequently asked questions
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Who should I expect to arrive at my home?
You should expect a team of DispatchHealth clinicians to arrive at your home. This will include a physician assistant or a nurse practitioner and/or a medical technician. They are supported by an emergency medicine or hospitalist physician, if necessary.
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What hours are services available?
DispatchHealth is available from 7am – 9pm, 7 days per week, including holidays.
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What kind of vehicle should I expect to see?
You should expect to see a vehicle marked with the MedStar Health logo and the DispatchHealth logo. If you are receiving care in Virginia, you will see a vehicle with the Inova Health System logo instead of the MedStar Health logo. However, your MedStar Health provider will still be informed about your visit.
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Does my insurance cover these services? How much does it cost?
DispatchHealth is in-network with many health insurance plans and is often the same out-of-pocket cost of an in-network urgent care center. There may be a co-pay for this service that you can discuss when your DispatchHealth visit is scheduled. Please contact DispatchHealth for more information about your specific insurance plan at 202-793-4988.
Our services
- ED Bridge Care: pre-scheduled visit at home within 72 hours following discharge from ED.
- Inpatient Bridge Care: pre-scheduled visit at home within 24hours – 1-week post-discharge from an inpatient hospital unit.
- Acute Care: same day or next day high acuity care in the home (referral from MedStar eVisit).
Conditions we treat
Cardiology
Common ailments
Dermatology
Digestive
Ear, Nose and Throat
Eye
Musculoskeletal
Neurological
Respiratory
Urinary
Procedures and pharmacy services
Diagnostics:
- EKG
- Non-regulated durable medical equipment (DME)
Procedures:
- Laceration/wound kit
- Catheter placement
- Epistaxis treatment
Certified lab services:
- Moderate complexity labs
- Urinalysis
- Culture send outs
- Integration with external labs
Pharma services:
- IV antibiotics
- Anti-emetics
- Nebulizers
- Steroids
- IV fluids
Accepted insurance
- Inpatient Bridge Care accepts Medicare Fee-for-Service (Part B) only.
- ED Bridge Care accepts the following:
- Medicare Fee-for-Service (Part B)
- Cigna (Medicare Advantage & Commercial)
- CVS Health (Medicare Advantage & Commercial)
- Government Employees Health Association (Commercial)
- Humana (Medicare Advantage)
- United Healthcare (Medicare Advantage, Commercial)
- Aetna (Medicare Advantage, Commercial)