Discounted Medical Lodging for Patients and Caregivers
Scenario: You learn that you are about to receive the treatment you’ve been needing, but that treatment is in another State and you need to be there for 2-weeks. Can you afford to stay at a local hotel? Fortunately, there are other options for discounted medical lodging.
One of the more common things patients reach out to us about is finding a place to stay when they have to travel for medical reasons. When I was a Clinical Research Coordinator at Columbia University we were doing rare disease clinical trials. We had to recruit from all across the country. I worked with patients to help them find lodging when our protocols called for them to be on-site for 2-3 days. It was a significant expense for patients and further complicated an already complicated protocol – but it got done.
So here is some of what Patients Rising Concierge has learned about medical lodging. This may be especially helpful to those who have had to turn down treatments or clinical opportunities because lodging was not accessible.
Several non-profit organizations provide resources for patients and family caregivers. See below to find free discounted medical lodging when you have to travel for medical care.
Healthcare Hospitality Network
The Healthcare Hospitality Network supports more than 200 non-profit member organizations that provide lodging and support services to patients and their families that need to travel for medical care.
Ronald McDonald House Charities
This charitable organization caters to the needs of families of sick children (21 years and younger) who have to travel for their child’s care. Ronald McDonald House has locations close to the best children’s hospital across the U.S., where parents of hospitalized children can stay and dine for the duration for which their child receives active treatment. Some of these locations also provide educational and recreational programs as well as sibling support services. While payment is not expected, families may be asked to donate up to $25/day depending on the location of the house.
Connect with the social services department at your child’s hospital. They can place you on a waiting list at the nearby Ronald McDonald House.
Hope Lodge by The American Cancer Society
Cancer patients and their families sometimes travel to where a specialist physician or care may be found. Being away from home is hard enough for a sick patient, so The American Cancer Society came up with the idea of Hope Lodge. This free accommodation in 33 cities across the country provides patients (over 18 years) and their caregivers privacy as well as the ability to connect with others.
Please note that the Hope Lodge service is unavailable during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Joe’s House
Joe’s House is a non-profit service that was launched by a cancer patient’s wife in 2003. She faced lodging challenges while her husband was receiving treatment in different cities. The Joe’s House website lists lodging resources near hospitals and medical centers where cancer patients and their caregivers can stay at a discounted rate. Joe’s House can help streamline reservations based on proximity to a medical facility. Partner hotels include:
- Best Western
- Choice Hotels (Comfort Inn, Cambria, Sleep Inn, and others)
- Extended Stay America
- Drury Hotels
- InterContinental Hotels Group
- Healthcare Hospitality Network
- Red Roof Inns
- Wyndham Hotel Group
They also offer ground and air transportation information in collaboration with the National Patient Travel Helpline.
Extended Stay America (Partnership with the American Cancer Society):
This partnership has led to the Extended Stay America ACS rates that offers either a free or highly discounted stay for cancer patients who are undergoing treatment at a medical facility away from home. These hotels extend a welcome to family members as well as pets, which can provide great emotional support for patients facing tough treatment regimens. Kitchenettes save on dining costs and also lets patients maintain control of their diet.
Since 2013 the program has helped 15,000+ patients and families save over $7 million in stay-related costs.
WoodSpring Suites:
This hotel chain also offers cheaper extended stay options for patients and families in multiple locations around the country.
CHECK THE HOSPITAL WEBSITE
In addition to the information above, make sure to check the website of the hospital you will be visiting. Many include information on reasonable lodging places near their location. Some even have a hotel liaison, or have partnerships with nearby hotels to get a discounted rates.
Additional Resources
- Medical transportation services: https://patientsrising.org/how-to-find-patient-transportation-services/.
- OpenHomes (An Airbnb service): https://www.airbnb.com/openhomes/medical.
Patients Rising acknowledges the important contributions of Surabhi Dangi-Garimella, Ph.D. in this article. Improving patient access is our mission and we are happy to utilize a variety of experts to carry that out.