Now hospitals are again used mainly for serious, life-threatening medical problems or complications, major surgery or beginning complex therapies that require sophisticated equipment or observation that can't be obtained elsewhere.

The New Home Care Services  Home and office care offer significant advantages—lower cost, the avoidance of a strange and unfamiliar environment and especially the ability of a family to offer direct, supportive care.
    Home care services are expanding in many areas. Where these services are available, a variety of important treatment procedures—including chemotherapy , antibiotics, total parenteral nutrition and pain management—can be given in the home by an oncology nurse working under the supervision of an oncologist . The ability to give home chemotherapy safely has been greatly improved by the use of implanted venous access devices such as the Hickman, Broviac or Groshong catheters or Infusaport devices.
    If you need these services, the nurse can remain with you for as many hours as necessary and your family members can be taught to give other medications to control symptoms and side effects.
    Insurance companies and other third party payers are rapidly agreeing to pay for home care in many instances, especially when the cost of performing the service at home is shown to be a lot less than it is at a hospital. Medicare and Medicaid will pay for professional nursing visits, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and a medical social worker, provided your physician believes it is a necessary part of your treatment program.