The Heal at Home program at University of Utah Health is providing individualized, multidisciplinary care to help patients transition from the hospital to their homes after surgery or procedures. For Paige Croxford, a patient who previously experienced a difficult recovery following a 2022 C-section, the program offered a much different experience during her second delivery in 2025.
Following her second C-section in October 2025, Croxford was able to return home within 24 hours. The program facilitated in-home visits from a nurse with Community Nursing Services to monitor both Croxford and her newborn daughter, Brynn.
During one visit, the nurse provided critical assistance when the baby's umbilical cord snagged on a zipper and began bleeding. The nurse's intervention gave Croxford the confidence to wait for a scheduled pediatrician appointment rather than seeking unnecessary urgent care. Croxford noted that the personalized care helped her manage healing issues with her incision and allowed her older daughter, Presley, to be involved in the process from the start.
The Heal at Home program has expanded its scope since its inception. According to Jared Huber, MD, the medical director for home-based care at U of U Health, the program was initially limited to orthopedic surgery recovery, such as hip and knee replacements. It now covers various specialties and aims to reduce the anxiety and overwhelm patients feel when managing medical events at home.
The program utilizes a multidisciplinary team including case managers, providers, administrators, and leaders from both Community Nursing Services and University of Utah Health.
Dr. Huber encourages patients to speak with their providers regarding eligibility for the program, noting that some patients have used Heal at Home for multiple different medical needs. Croxford expressed her intention to use the program again for future births due to the importance of recovering within the family unit.
