Ascension Saint Thomas is the first health system in Tennessee, and one of the first in the nation, approved to provide Hospital Care at Home to Medicare fee-for-service patients. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced approval for the service at Ascension Saint Thomas West, Midtown and Rutherford Hospitals.

"Hospital Care at Home allows Ascension Saint Thomas providers to deliver hospital-level care at home, which has proven to be a vital resource as we adapt to challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic," said Tim Adams, president & CEO, Ascension Saint Thomas. "CMS is offering a much-needed expansion of our care offerings and we are grateful to Governor Bill Lee for issuing an executive order further authorizing this new setting for inpatient care. We now have the ability to serve more patients at home while reserving inpatient beds for the sickest patients."

Ascension Saint Thomas, in partnership with Nashville-based Contessa, introduced home-based hospital care in 2019.