HCR ManorCare Offers New Video On The Benefits Of Post-Acute Skilled Nursing And Rehabilitation Facilities

New HCR ManorCare video explains how stay at a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center helps patients confidently transition between hospital and home, and reducing re-hospitalizations.

Toledo, OH (PRWEB) - Post-acute care, more commonly known as post-hospital care, is designed to improve a patient’s transition from the hospital back to the community. Post-acute patients no longer need the acute care setting of the hospital, which includes around-the-clock physicians, emergency services and ICU, but still need additional support to assist them to recuperate.

“With the ever-changing health care landscape, patients are discharged from the hospital quickly and often sent directly home to finish recovery after a hospital stay. This path may not always be in the patient’s best interest,” says Marty Grabijas, Vice President of Marketing at HCR ManorCare. “At home, patients may lack the resources and support needed to get back on their feet, but in post-acute skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities, we offer the services, medical equipment, supplies and resources that a patient truly needs after injury, illness or surgery,” said Grabijas. “Post-acute skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities are now designed to provide that extra support for patients who need a little more care, a little more strength, a little more help and a little more education before they return back to their active lives.”

Post-hospital skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities, which provide comprehensive care for patients as they transition from hospital to home, are equipped to care for patients battling complex health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, pulmonary disease, cancer, wounds or orthopedic and joint conditions. At skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities, the nurses, specialists and staff focus on individualized care plans.

“Goal-setting helps encourage a patient’s recovery and independence and often allows for a quicker return to a lower level of care,” said Grabijas. “More importantly, when patients are discharged from post-acute rehabilitation facilities, they are usually more confident and capable of caring for themselves, and are provided with an at-home care plan and the resources needed to enhance their recovery.”

Patients are rapidly being discharged from the hospital. When patients return to the hospital or emergency department after discharge with changes in health status or problems with care coordination, this costs the hospital and insurance companies a significant amount of money. The “revolving door” of health care refers to patients who are discharged after a hospital stay and readmitted within 30 days.

“Hospital readmission is not only costly, but hard on patients and family members. Mentally, physically and emotionally, returning to the hospital takes a toll and resonates as a setback for patients looking to return to their highest level of independence,” said Grabijas. “By utilizing the post-acute skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility option as the next logical step after hospital discharge, the revolving door can be slowed and hospital readmission rates could decline. Patients would be secure and in a setting where they would be monitored and the recovery process overseen by trained medical professionals.”

When to Consider a Post-Acute (or Post-hospital) Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility

Some specific conditions or symptoms that may warrant extra consideration before a discharge directly to home include:

• Feeling disoriented or faint
• Pain that is not controlled by medication
• Trouble going to the bathroom unassisted
• Trouble moving from bed to chair unassisted
• Needs strengthening after a debilitating disease or illness
• Trouble keeping food and drink down
• Dietary restrictions
• Gait (walking) problems – unsteady, not able to step up or down, difficulty with uneven terrain
• Needing assistance with hygiene and self-management
• Requiring extra medical equipment that is hard to manage or operate
• Multiple medications

A more detailed list of considerations regarding discharging patients to a post-acute rehabilitation facility rather than home is available through Heartland and ManorCare Health Services skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers. Our Patient Criteria Quick Guide provides discharge planners with a list of the “extras” to think about before sending a patient home. By using this quick guide, patients can confidently transition to a place that will truly benefit them and the recovery process.

The HCR ManorCare health care family comprises centers that are leading providers of short-term post-acute services and long-term care. With 56,000 caregivers nationwide, the HCR ManorCare centers are preeminent care providers in their communities. Quality care for patients and residents is provided through a network of more than 500 skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers, assisted living facilities, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, and hospice and home health care agencies. These locations operate primarily under the respected Heartland, ManorCare Health Services and Arden Courts names.