Vero Beach has officially become the nerve center for a futuristic approach to medical treatment with the opening of a major new facility at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital. In a significant advancement for local healthcare, the hospital recently unveiled the Rubinstein Family Hospital Care at Home Suite, a high-tech command center that serves as the operational hub for monitoring patients across multiple states.
This new suite allows medical teams to bring acute, hospital-level care directly into patients’ living rooms. While the physical command center is located right here in Vero Beach, its reach is extensive. Specially trained doctors and nurses stationed at the facility now monitor patients 24 hours a day, not only in Vero Beach and across Florida but also at two newly added network hospitals in Ohio.
Bringing the Hospital to the Patient
The program challenges the traditional model of healthcare by asking a radical question: What if the hospital could come to the patient? Since launching its pilot program in April 2023, Cleveland Clinic has admitted over 5,000 acute care patients into the “Hospital Care at Home” model.
The concept offers patients the comfort of their own beds and kitchens while maintaining a rigorous level of medical oversight. Dr. Richard Rothman, vice president and chief medical officer at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, emphasized that this is not merely home health care, but a true hospital substitute.
“While you are at home, you are actually under a hospital admission, and we are caring for you the same way we would care for you in our brick-and-mortar hospital.”
Tech Giants Powering Local Innovation
The realization of this state-of-the-art command center was made possible by a generous $2 million gift from Vero Beach residents John Rubinstein and Karen Richardson. The donors have a storied history with technology; John Rubinstein is an electrical engineer renowned for his instrumental role in developing the Apple iMac and iPod.
Rubinstein drew a parallel between his past work and this new medical frontier, noting that just as the iPod allowed music to be mobile, this technology allows hospital-level care to be delivered in a home environment.
How the Program Works
Delivering acute care outside of hospital walls requires a sophisticated, three-pillared approach:
- The Command Center: The new Vero Beach facility houses physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and care coordinators who monitor patients around the clock.
- Advanced Technology: Patients are connected via a “digital tether”—specialized tablets and software that allow for continuous monitoring and real-time communication with the command center.
- Clinical Service Network: A network of local healthcare professionals conducts physical home visits to administer medication, physical therapy, and lab work.
Remarkably, services that were once strictly confined to hospital facilities—such as chest X-rays, echocardiograms, and ultrasounds—can now be performed in the patient’s home.
Proven Outcomes and Economic Growth
The program has already demonstrated impressive results. Data gathered from the 5,000+ admissions shows a 30-day readmission rate of just 8.1 percent, which is significantly lower than traditional brick-and-mortar hospital statistics. Dr. Rothman attributes this success partly to the home environment, where patients feel less pressure, move more freely, and receive highly individualized care plans.
In addition to better patient outcomes, the initiative acts as an economic driver for the Treasure Coast. The 24/7 command center has created more than 100 professional jobs locally, including positions for nurses, physicians, and advanced practice providers, with more growth expected as the network expands.
Eligibility and Access
While the program is revolutionary, safety remains the priority. Currently, approximately 25 percent of patients qualify for the service. Eligibility is determined through a thorough evaluation in the emergency department or inpatient unit to ensure the patient does not require ICU-level care or complex surgery.
For those who do qualify, the transition to home-based recovery begins immediately, with a nurse escorting the patient home to set up the technology that keeps them connected to Vero Beach’s newest medical hub.
