While they can be a lesser known post-acute setting, long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) provide substantial benefits for hospitals. From helping to reduce rehospitalizations to providing more specialized care for the most medically complex patients, LTACHs can be an important part of hospital’s market expansion strategy and community ecosystem.
Learn two of the latest trends making an impact in the healthcare space and how a joint-venture or contract management partnership with an LTACH expert could help your hospital meet the opportunity:
Trend 1: Increased need for post-acute services as medically complex patient numbers rise
The medically complex patient population continues to consume a disproportionate amount of acute healthcare resources and has a significantly higher-than-average likelihood of hospital admissions and readmissions. Targeting the needs of these patients to achieve lower care costs, improve outcomes and increase efficiencies can help hospital leaders plan for long-term success.1
LTACHs are one of the most effective options for medically complex, COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 patients. They are structured in a way that enables them to quickly adapt and evolve to effectively treat the changing needs of a growing patient population.
By integrating long-term acute care into their offerings, hospitals can increase access to the right level of care to meet the expanding needs of the communities they serve.
Trend 2: Heightened focus on financial stability
80 percent of healthcare executives noted that the largest priority for their hospital was financial stability when looking at their strategic plans, according to a recent Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) survey.2 These survey results highlight the importance of understanding the cost benefits of alternative care options such as LTACHs for medically complex patients.
This is especially critical as medically complex and critically ill patients can often increase total cost of care due to readmission risk if they are not treated in the proper setting. LTACHs are often the ideal setting for patients who need additional ICU-level care and who are at high risk of rehospitalization. 3
Read our white paper, “Market Expansion Strategies and Trends: Benefits of LTACH Integration” to uncover additional strategies around market expansion and how your hospital can meet the opportunity within your community.
References:
- Nickels, T. (2020, June 24). AHA Letter on Resetting the IMPACT Act in Next COVID-19 Relief Package: AHA. Retrieved June 29, 2020, from https://www.aha.org/lettercomment/2020-06-24-aha-letter-resetting-impact-act-next-covid-19-relief-package
- Koenig, Lane et al. "The Role of Long-term Acute Care Hospitals in Treating the Critically Ill and Medically Complex: An Analysis of Nonventilator Patients." Medical care vol. 53,7 (2015): 582-90.
- HFMA, (September 2021), Rehabilitation Service Live Survey, [PowerPoint Slides], Healthcare Financial Management Association