Healthcare Headlines Blog
May 1, 2023
By Dr. Dean French, MD, CPPS
While long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are often misunderstood as offering the same level of care, the unique expertise and resources available at LTACHs allow them to improve outcomes for medically complex patients. Below are 5 key differences between LTACH and SNF settings that impact patient recovery.
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LTACHs
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SNFs
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Physicians
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On-site physician visits at least once per day; sub-specialists available on location
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On-site physician visits at least once every 30 days for the first 90 days; sub-specialists seen offsite
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Nursing
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Approximately 1-6 patients per nurse, ratios lower in critical care units; High-acuity care provided by BLS- and ACLS-certified nurses with advanced critical care training
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Approximately 10-40 patients per nurse
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Respiratory Therapy
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24/7 respiratory therapy in house in every location
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Limited respiratory therapy in select locations
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Services
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On-site services such as telemetry, radiology, pharmacy, lab, and dialysis
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Radiology, pharmacy, lab, and dialysis services accessible, but not on-site
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Infection Prevention
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CMS-compliant infection prevention standards with hospital-level air ventilation systems and negative pressure isolation rooms
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Residential-level air ventilation systems
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How Kindred Hospitals Can Help
Kindred Hospitals has provided quality long-term acute care for over 30 years.
Learn more about how Kindred improves outcomes for medically complex patients at refertokindred.com
May 1, 2023
By Dr. Dean French, MD, CPPS