Your Hospital Stay

Discharge

Going Home

Someone responsible needs to drive you home. You will receive written discharge instructions concerning medications, physical therapy, activity, etc. If needed, you will receive equipment delivered to you at the hospital, or to your home. This usually happens before lunch on day one. Please understand that medical equipment is nonrefundable, so once you sign for it, be sure it goes home with you. Otherwise someone will have to retrieve it from the hospital or it will be discarded if left unclaimed. If your surgeon has ordered home health services like a physical therapist, the hospital will arrange for this before you go home in accordance with your choice. Rest assured that we will help coordinate all of your care to be sure you have everything you need for home.

If You are Going to a Sub-Acute Rehab Facility

If you aren’t well enough to go home, or if there have been complications directly related to your surgery that are limiting your recovery, you might qualify for short-term rehabilitation at an intermediary facility prior to going home. These situations are rare and account for less than 2% of our patients each month. Please, do not count on going to short term rehab as your primary discharge plan as the eligibility criteria are quite strict. Almost all of our patients are doing so well that they don’t qualify. Someone responsible needs to drive you to rehab, or the hospital can help you arrange for paid transportation. This is typically not covered by insurance. Your transfer papers will be completed by the nursing staff. Either your primary care physician or a physician from the sub-acute facility will be caring for you in consultation with your surgeon. Expect to stay 3–5 days, based upon your progress. Upon discharge home, instructions will be given to you by the sub-acute rehab staff. Be sure to take this guidebook with you to the rehab facility so you may refer to it if needed. Please remember that these short term rehab stays must be approved by your insurance company and will be approved or denied in accordance with the guidelines established by Medicare or your insurance company. Although you may desire to go to rehab when you are discharged, your progress will be monitored by your insurance company while you are in the hospital. Upon evaluation of your progress, you will either meet the criteria to benefit from sub-acute rehab or your insurance company may recommend that you return home with other care arrangements. Therefore, it is important for you to make alternative plans preoperatively for care at home. In the event sub-acute rehab is not approved by your insurance company, you can go to sub-acute rehab and pay privately. Please keep in mind that the majority of our patients do so well that they do not meet the guidelines to qualify for sub-acute rehab. Also keep in mind that insurance companies do not become involved in social issues, such as lack of caregiver, animals, etc. These are issues you will have to address before admission.

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