After surgery or a medical event, a physician may recommend staying in a short-term rehabilitation facility. When you need to select a short-term rehabilitation center for yourself or someone in your care, it's important to know what to expect.   Consider the following factors as you evaluate each facility to help make an informed choice.

1. Cost

Handling financial matters in advance makes planning your rehabilitation easier. You need to understand what you're responsible for, such as deductible, after taking into account any third-party coverage you have from Medicare, Medicaid, HMOs, or private insurance. The facility should be able to explain your payment options for your portion of the rehabilitation costs if any.

2. Reputation 

You have several avenues for determining a facility's reputation. For example, Medicare has a five-star quality rating system for nursing facilities. One star indicates below average quality while a five-star rating denotes above average quality. You can review the Medicare rating of the facilities you're considering online.

Another indicator of a good reputation is recognition for quality from the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living. Looking at the facility's customer satisfaction ratings can also be informative.

Another key indicator is inquiring if the facility has accreditation from an organization, for example the Joint Commission. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies health care agencies and programs throughout the United States. 

3. Services

It's critical to confirm the facility offers the services your doctor recommends for your recovery. Whether you need physical therapy, wound care, or other services, the facility should clearly outline the type of treatment plan and team members will participate in your care and recovery.

You'll also want to know what you can expect when you transition from the hospital to the rehabilitation center. For instance, facilities usually perform evaluations within 24 hours of your arrival. You may want to know which team members will be involved in the initial assessment and how their findings will impact your plan of care.

4. Safety and Security

During your recovery it is important to feel safe and secure so you can focus on healing. The facility should be staffed adequately to meet patient needs in a timely manner. Although every facility should have assistive devices such as handrails along hallways and grab bars in bathrooms, ensuring patient safety also involves staffing levels. Adequate staffing is vital to meet patient needs in a timely manner.

5. Accessibility and Quality of Care . 

During your assessment of a facility you should have an understanding of the ratio of nurses and medical support staff to patients.  

Often, intangibles like accessibility and quality of care make the difference between an average facility and a stellar one. Consider the following questions.

• What are the facility's visiting hours?
• How will your treatment team communicate with you and your family?
• How will your treatment team communicate with your primary doctor?
• What amenities and social activities are there to enjoy during your free time? 

The facility's staff should be able to share what measures they take to care for and respect the dignity of their patients.

6. Tour the Facility

This is your opportunity to see how well the facility is maintained. It should be clean and visually appealing. As you visit the facility, observe how the staff is interacting with patients and visitors. Do the staff members seem friendly and caring?

The outline above is a good approach when choosing a short-term rehabilitation facility and for a successful recovery.

Please feel free to contact us with your questions. We're available to support you as you make this important decision.