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Making the Right Choice for Your Loved
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making the right choice
FOR YOUR LOVED ONE’S REHABILITATION SERVICES
After a loved one experiences a debilitating illness or injury such as a stroke, hip fracture or spinal cord injury, where you choose to do rehabilitation will make a difference in their independence and quality of life. However, most people don’t begin their research until they’re in the hospital and are faced with the life-changing decision.
With many types of health care facilities, the below tips can help you compare availability of services, personnel, approach to delivery of patient care and patient outcomes.
REHABILITATION FACILITIES AND NURSING HOMES ARE DIFFERENT
The amount of intensive therapy hours provided at each type of facility varies. Be sure to ask important questions before making your choice such as:
• Are the programs customized to meet the specific needs of the patients? • During the stay, how many visits will a physician make to assess the patient’s needs? • Are members of the patient’s care team specialized in rehabilitation?
TAKE A TOUR
Before you make a decision, make an appointment to take a tour of the place. Look for cleanliness, smell for odors and ask to see therapy areas and equipment. Will they incorporate advanced technologies into the patient’s therapy? Also, talk with the providers and find out how familiar the team is with the patient’s condition being treated.
DO THE COMPARISON
Make sure to compare the years of service, types of specialty programs offered, patient satisfaction, national clinical ratings and patient clinical outcomes among facilities. In addition, The Joint Commission awards many Disease-Specific Care (DSC) Certifications for rehabilitation programs that demonstrate compliance with national health care standards in quality and safety.
Ultimately, the provider chosen should strive to help your loved one achieve the highest level of independence possible. Educate yourself as your choice can make a difference in the patient’s life post-illness or injury.
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