A few questions to ask your discharge team include:
- Can I get any of these items from the rehab program or do I need to buy them?
- If I have to buy them, where can I find them?
- Will the patient’s insurance pay for them?
- The patient already owns a piece of the required equipment. Can it be used again?
Full Answer
What questions should I ask during a hospital discharge discussion?
Feb 16, 2022 · Consider appealing the discharge Make sure the rehab program provides you with contact information for the local Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) that reviews such appeals. You can also find this information online. Appeals often take only a day or two. What does it mean to be discharged to rehab?
What happens at discharge from the hospital?
Jan 03, 2018 · Caregivers need to ask why the prognosis has changed and what has to be done to prevent readmission. Family caregivers should also ask if anything went wrong during the procedure or hospital stay, and how the issue was resolved. If these details are listed in your loved one’s records, the information will need to be disclosed.
Why do nursing homes discharge rehabilitation patients?
Ask the rehab team if there are certain foods your family member can or cannot eat. This might include specific foods such as milk or meat, or general types of food, such as very soft food or liquids. If your family member needs any special foods, try to buy them before discharge when it is easier to shop. Medication
What questions should I ask about my parent’s rehab plan?
Sep 22, 2017 · Some questions to ask include: Does your loved one need assistance with the activities of daily life? Is there any special therapy, exercise, or treatment your loved one needs? How long is recovery expected to take? What warning signs should you look for? Will your loved one need assistance with ...
Discharge Planner FAQ: Knowing What Topics to Cover
There are a lot of questions you should be asking your discharge planner, and the questions will cover a range of topics. You'll also need to inquire about how long special care or treatment will need to continue after discharge.
Care Questions
After leaving the hospital or rehab, your loved one may require special care. It’s integral you understand the scope of care and everything your loved one is going to require. Some questions to ask include:
Dietary Needs
The doctor may recommend a special diet that’s adapted to the changing needs of a senior, and you need to know if there are any special foods your loved one should be eating or avoiding. Questions you can ask are:
Medication
After an illness or injury, it’s possible your loved one may require special medications. You need to know what those medications are, when they need to be taken, and how the medications should be managed. You can ask things such as:
Equipment and Supplies
If your loved one requires any special equipment, you both have to be familiar with and how to use it properly. This could include a cane, hospital bed, wheelchair, oxygen, grab bars for the shower, or assistive devices. Questions to ask include:
Is the Facility Accredited?
In the United States, physical rehab facilities are accredited by the Joint Commission.
Does the Facility Monitor Care Quality?
Ask whether the facility offers patient or family surveys to assess the quality of care and satisfaction. Also, ask if they conduct employee satisfaction surveys.
Is the Facility Clean and Appealing?
When you walk into the facility, check whether it smells good and looks clean. Be wary of facilities that have a urine odor when you enter. The décor should be appealing and functional. The building should be accessible indoors and outdoors.
Does the Facility Specialize in Rehabilitation Care?
Facilities that specialize in rehabilitation care are certified by Medicare as rehabilitation hospitals. 3 The individuals who work in certified rehabilitation hospitals are specially trained in acute rehabilitation care.
Are Board-Certified Medical Staff Available at All Times?
It is very important to have board-certified medical staff trained in rehab care in the facility. They should be available around the clock.
What Is the Ratio of Qualified Nurses to Patients?
A facility may seem to have plenty of caregivers on staff, but are they qualified rehabilitation nurses? An ideal ratio of nurses to patients is one nurse to every five or six patients during the day. In the evening, a nurse for every six or seven patients is ideal.
How Much Therapy Will the Patient Receive?
A rehabilitation facility should provide more therapy than a nursing home. Ideally, therapy should be provided for three hours a day, five days a week. 4
If I cannot provide the care my loved one requires after discharge, what are our other options?
One of the most common mistakes that caregivers make is they don’t inform the hospital staff of their reservations about being able to provide the appropriate care.
What medications will my loved one be taking?
At discharge, a member of the hospital staff will go over the discharge instructions with your loved one. The instructions should include a list of the medications your loved one will be taking after leaving the hospital.
Are there follow-up appointments or tests that have been or need to be scheduled?
During your discharge discussion with a hospital staff member, ask if any appointments have already been scheduled or if you will need to schedule them. Make sure that you have the contact information for any doctors who treated your loved one for the first time.
What Is a Patient Care Conference?
A patient care conference is a scheduled meeting between a patient in a hospital, rehabilitation center or assisted living community and their care team. Family members are welcome to join the care conferences—in fact, it’s encouraged whenever possible.
Questions to Ask at a Senior Rehab Patient Care Conference
You’ll likely have some questions already in mind about your parent’s rehab plan. But if you’re wondering where to even begin with your questions, here are a few ideas:
Senior Rehab Patient Care Conference Format
So, now that you have your questions prepared, what can you expect when you go to a care conference? Every conference is different but in general, the meeting follows a certain structure.
Columbus and Central Ohio Senior Rehab Centers
If you’re looking for senior rehab and physical therapy centers in the Columbus area, The MacIntosh Company offers rehab at centers in New Albany, Canal Winchester, Mill Run, Grove City, Circleville and other convenient Columbus-area locations.
Choosing a Columbus Ohio Senior Physical Therapy Provider
Picking a post hospital senior rehab center can be a daunting task. That’s why we’ve created a free guide, What to Consider When Choosing a Skilled Rehabilitation Center. In it, you’ll find answers to frequently asked rehab questions to help you during your search.
Who is Kevin Smith?
Kevin Smith is President and COO of Best of Care, Inc. which serves Greater Boston, the South Shore, South Coast and Cape Cod communities with offices in Quincy, Raynham, New Bedford and South Dennis, Massachusetts.
Is it difficult to transition from hospital to home?
Making the transition from hospital to rehabilitation to home care can be extremely challenging, especially if the health, mobility and mental state of your loved one have changed profoundly. Through the process, remember:
Does Medicare cover skilled nursing?
If the patient has reached a level of mobility or health equal to their ‘baseline’ health condition before the event that sent them to the hospital, Medicare typically will not continue to cover skilled nursing or rehabilitation services within the facility.
