Home care services for technology-dependent patients, especially ventilated patients, are becoming more and more popular in Germany and other highly industrialized countries in the world, but currently we do not know much about this form of health care. What is going on behind closed doors? What are the experiences of patients, relatives and health professional in this private environment when the are confronted with sophisticated medical technology? What do we know about the patient safety aspects of this highly specialized form of home health care?