Choosing the Right Rehabilitative Care

After experiencing a life-changing stroke or other illness, your doctor may recommend rehabilitation as the next step in your journey to recovery—but what does that mean, and where should rehabilitation take place?

These settings—known as postacute care—include home health, inpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing homes and long-term acute care hospitals. Should you need additional care, your care team could refer you to one of these settings based on your abilities and goals; but as a patient, you have

the right to choose where you go for post-acute care.

Your doctor said you need rehabilitation. What next?

Independent studies show that inpatient rehabilitation hospitals are a better setting for stroke, hip fracture, and hip replacement patients. Unlike skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals are required to provide at least three hours of therapy fi ve days a week and will allow access to trained physicians and rehabilitation equipment and technology that may not be available elsewhere.

On average, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals have a lower length of stay and discharge more patients home than skilled nursing facilities. This means inpatient rehabilitation hospitals are able to help individuals return to their families, their jobs and their communities more eff ectively and more quickly.

The services delivered at inpatient rehabilitation hospitals serve as a next step for many patients who are ready to leave the acute care hospital, but need extra rehabilitation and recovery before returning home. Doing your

Doing your research and selecting the right inpatient rehabilitation hospital is a critical step for a successful recovery.

research and selecting the right inpatient rehabilitation hospital is a critical step for a successful recovery.

Your local inpatient rehabilitation hospital of choice.

Editor’s Note: This article was submitted by Lisa Hopkins, OTR/L, of Encompass Health – Harmarville – Sewickley – Kennedy. At Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Harmarville and Sewickley, we are committed to helping you regain independence after a life-changing illness or injury. Serving Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas, we are a leading provider of inpatient rehabilitation for stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and other complex neurological and orthopedic conditions. To learn more, visit encompasshealth.com.