Long-term acute care hospital overview
A long-term acute care hospital is for people that have multiple chronic conditions that require a higher level of care. Chronic diseases are becoming more and more prevalent in the US, with one out of every four adults affected.
When facing a chronic illness with a long and/or unpredictable recovery period, most people want to remain at home. If you or a loved one is struggling with a long term acute illness, here are reasons why choosing a long-term acute care hospital may be the best option for your condition.
Monitoring
Close monitoring is an important factor when deciding to choose a long-term acute care hospital. They offer 24/7 care from nurses and doctors. This provides you with the best possible care while you recover from surgery or injury.
A long-term acute care hospital will also make the patient become more comfortable. You can focus on your comfort, which increases your chances of getting better faster with less complications or infections.
The staff at the long-term acute care hospital will be able to spend more time with each patient, allowing them to get to know you better than they could if they were seeing multiple patients every day at different times throughout the day and night!
This means they can provide even better care since they know exactly how each patient is doing on a daily basis—the good things as well as any problems that may arise during recovery time. In addition there are specialists at the long-term acute care hospital who come in regularly, so if anything does happen after hours (such as bleeding), then someone will always be there for support.
24/7 care
A long-term acute care hospital is staffed with nurses and doctors 24 hours a day, which can give you peace of mind. If you have a loved one who needs constant care, a long-term acute care hospital will make them feel more comfortable by having medical staff on hand at all times. The caregivers should be able to provide direct assistance to your loved one if they need it and also answer any questions that may come up about their condition or treatment plan.
Better outcomes for complex conditions
If you’ve been in hospital for a prolonged period of time, it’s natural to feel anxious about being discharged. But when it comes to quality of care and recovery, longer hospital stays are associated with better outcomes.
And that’s no surprise, given that a long-term acute care hospital(LTACHs) can provide better outcomes than those that require longer stays compared to other hospitals. The LTACH designation means they provide specialized services and technologies not available at other hospitals; this includes specialty nursing expertise and advanced technology such as ventilators or dialysis machines.
These features found in a long-term acute care hospital allow patients to recover from complex conditions while receiving specialized medical attention they may need outside an acute care setting like a hospital or skilled nursing facility (SNF).
Comfortable facilities
If you need extended hospital care, but don’t require intensive care, a long-term acute care hospital is a great option. Patients are staying in a more home-like setting and can recover more quickly than if they were in a traditional hospital setting.
If you have ever been in a hospital or rehab facility, you know that these places are not always comfortable. There are usually lots of machines and people around you all the time. You may not feel like you have privacy or space to do what you want to do when you want to do it.
In contrast, a long-term acute care hospital provides patients with an environment that is as close to home as possible while still providing the medical treatment they need. The staff members at the long-term acute care hospital work hard to make sure that every patient has their own space so that they can relax when they need it and get their rest when they need it as well.
Staffing
A long-term acute care hospital is equipped with a higher number of nurses and doctors than other senior care options. This means that you will have more chances to ask questions, get your concerns addressed, and learn about your condition. This can make all the difference in helping you feel more comfortable with your treatment plan.
In addition to having more medical professionals on staff at the long-term acute care hospital, many of these facilities also provide specialized treatments for patients who are suffering from chronic illnesses or serious injuries.
Recovery
A long-term acute care hospital has a team of doctors, nurses and therapists who work together to help you recover from your illness or injury as quickly as possible. In a long term acute care hospital you will get individualized care tailored to your specific needs.
Specialist care
A long-term acute care hospital will provide access to specialists. As a patient with a chronic condition, you may require the expertise of multiple medical specialists. In some cases, this can be difficult or impossible to achieve within the confines of acute care hospitals.
Ability to coordinate care by multiple specialists. When you’re receiving care at home and in the community, it can often be challenging for your physicians to work together effectively on your behalf especially if they don’t have time during office visits or don’t have easy access to one another.
Your long-term acute care hospital team will provide this coordination for you so that all aspects of your health are considered carefully for long term benefit and quality outcomes. Collaborate with other specialists at any time through telehealth technology or face-to-face meetings.
Considerations
A long-term acute care hospital should be considered when a patient has serious medical problems that require constant attention and monitoring for a prolonged period of time. This kind of care is usually covered by healthcare insurance but we encourage you to check with your insurance provider for more details. A long-term acute care hospital is not for everyone, but it can provide an excellent quality of life for those who need it.
About us
GreySteps is where you will learn how to find the best senior care options for yourself or loved ones. We provide guides and resources for independent living, long-term acute care hospitals, hospice and other senior care options.