When you or a loved one is admitted to the hospital for an acute medical need, many moving parts can lead to an experience of feeling overwhelmed. Along with the concern associated with the immediate medical needs, individuals and families are often asked to think about what their plan will be once the patient is ready for discharge. Understanding your options and preparing your actions steps can help alleviate some of these concerns and allow for the focus to remain on the well-being of the patient. The following will be a brief discussion of what skilled rehabilitation is and the steps a patient or their family can take to prepare for discharge from the hospital.
When an individual is admitted to the hospital for an acute medical need, conversations with the medical team can quickly involve discussions about what the patient and family would like to plan on when the individual is ready to discharge from the hospital. Depending on the needs of the patient, the medical staff at the hospital may promote therapy services and/or continued medical care in a skilled nursing/rehabilitation facility to assist in the recovery and strengthening of the patient for their return to their home or other living arrangements.
Skilled nursing/rehabilitation facilities such as Bethany have the resources and services to provide continuous attention to the patient’s medical needs and recovery. At Bethany, we work in partnership with Smart Health Care to provide physical therapy services, occupational therapy services, and speech-language pathology services along with the following areas of specialized care:
Trans Parenteral Nutrition
Orthopedic Rehabilitation
Stroke Rehabilitation
Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders
Complex Wound Care
Diabetic Management
Neurological Rehab
IV Therapy
Oxygen Therapy & Respiratory Management
Ostomy Management
CHF Management
Catheter Management
Dysphagia Management
Amputation Care
Hospice and Palliative Care
Restorative Nursing Services
The services mentioned above are overseen by Dr. Elizabeth Baum (Board-certified and fellowship-trained Geriatrician) and Abbey Baum-Beigie (Nurse Practitioner). Dr. Baum and Abbey work in conjunction with our team of nurses, STNAs, and support staff to provide comprehensive medical care for our patients.
How is skilled nursing/therapy paid for?
Skilled rehabilitation is often covered by an individual’s insurance company due to their acute change/circumstances. If a loved one is in a situation where they may require this type of care, it is important to have clarifying discussions with one’s insurance company, doctors, and potential facilities to clearly understand what assistance will be provided by an insurance company to pay for these services.
The amount of time an individual stays in an in-patient setting such as Bethany is specific to the individual’s needs. The length of time is often guided by the progress a patient is making along with the input of their insurance company and medical team.
What can I do if I/a loved one is approved for skilled nursing care?
If the hospital team suggests continued in-patient therapy/medical care, a family will often be presented with a list of local facilities. While this list may not be exhaustive, it provides the family with a starting point. Researching facilities online can be a good starting point. It would also be beneficial to call facilities you may be interested in to learn more about them, better understand the services they provide and ensure the patient’s insurance is accepted by the facility.
It is advantageous for a family to consider multiple facilities, as there is a possibility that a facility of choice may not have any availability at the time of the patient’s discharge from the hospital.
Once a list of desired facilities has been developed, it is important to communicate these names with the support staff at the hospital. The hospital staff will then communicate with the facilities by sending a medical referral for review by the facilities.
Once the review is complete, the skilled nursing facility will communicate with the hospital if they can accept the patient. If the facility can accept, and the individual/family wishes to continue their care at this facility, discharge planning will begin to take place between the hospital, family, and skilled rehabilitation facility.