General Discharge Information
Our Philosophy: Home Is Best
Home is family. A favorite chair. A pet. Where your friends can find you. It’s quiet when you want it, and louder when you turn up the volume. That’s why Home is Best to get you back to your life as soon as possible.
At Lifespan, we make sure that Delivering health with care can continue at home. A recent national study showed that patients who were discharged directly home and those who entered a skilled nursing facility after their hospital stay experienced the same functional outcomes.*
Get Back to Your Life as Soon as Possible
Learn more about Home Is Best.
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Why delay with a stay somewhere that promises to feel like home when you could be at home? A recovery at home:
- Includes regular appointments with a high-quality, skilled care team equipped with a care plan tailored to your needs.
- Is in a familiar, comfortable, and safe environment.
- Offers quiet and privacy.
- Allows you to make your own schedule, including when and what you eat.
- Allows for visitors when you want.
- Gives you peace of mind.
- Permits family and loved ones to be close.
Ask your care team if a recovery at home is your best option for getting better.
Your Care Options After Your Hospital Stay
Before your discharge, you and your care team will work together to identify which level of care is right for you. There are options designed for your specific needs and abilities in a variety of settings.
Long-Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH)
A long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) is a facility that specializes in the treatment of patients with serious medical conditions who require ongoing care but no longer require intensive care or extensive diagnostic procedures.
What type of patient is a LTACH right for?
This type of facility is right for a patient who needs daily monitoring by a physician and/or more care than available in a rehabilitation center, skilled nursing facility, or at home.
Is a hospital stay required for admission to an LTACH?
Yes, usually three nights in an intensive care unit (ICU) or “step-down” care setting.
How long is the average length of stay in an LTACH?
Most patients remain in an LTACH for less than 25 days.
What are the benefits of an LTACH?
LTACHs have the same licensing, accreditation, and certification standards as traditional hospitals, yet offer the personalized focus of a smaller hospital. This type of care can reduce hospital readmissions.
Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF)
An inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) is a facility licensed under state laws to provide intensive rehabilitative services. An IRF will be able to provide more intensive rehabilitation than a skilled nursing facility or home-based rehabilitation service.
What type of patient is an IRF right for?
If a patient requires at least 15 hours of rehabilitation therapy over a period of seven days and has complex medical and functional limitations, an IRF is a worthwhile option for care.
Is a hospital stay required for admission to an IRF?
No, a hospital stay is not required.
How long is the average length of stay in an IRF?
Most patients remain in an IRF for up to 14 days.
What are the benefits of an IRF?
Patients who stay in an IRF benefit from a centralized and intensive team-based multidisciplinary approach to care.
Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)
A skilled nursing facility (SNF) provides short-term rehabilitation after a hospital stay for an illness, injury or surgery, and long-term care for those patients needing that level of support. An SNF also offers rehabilitative services from licensed physical, occupational or speech therapists.
What type of patient is an SNF right for?
SNF patients typically require at least one hour of rehabilitative therapy over a period of five days.
Is a hospital stay required for admission at an SNF?
Yes, three consecutive inpatient midnights.
How long is the average length of stay in an SNF?
Most patients remain in an SNF for up to 20 days.
What are the benefits of an SNF?
Services may vary between SNFs, but the most consistent benefit of an SNF is that patients have access to a wide range of health and personal care services.
Home Health Care (HHC)
Home health care (HHC) is a wide range of healthcare services that can be given in your home for an illness or injury and are provided by qualified staff of a home care agency.
What type of patient is HHC right for?
If the patient must remain homebound and requires therapy at least 2 to 3 times a week, HHC is a good option.
Is a hospital stay required for admission to HHC?
No, a hospital stay is not required.
How long is the average length of stay in an HHC?
A patient’s length of stay in an HHC will vary dependent on their condition.
What are the benefits of an HHC?
Home health care is usually less expensive, more convenient, and as effective as care you get in a hospital or SNF.
Hospice
Hospice care is an option for patients who are reaching the end of life, when a shift from healing to one of providing the best quality of remaining life is needed.
What type of patient is right for a hospice?
Hospice is provided to patients with a life expectancy of six months or less.
Is a hospital stay required for admission?
No, a hospital stay is not required.
How long is the average length of stay in hospice?
The amount of time a patient remains in hospice care varies.
What are the benefits of hospice?
When supportive care rather than curative care is needed, hospice offers many benefits for both patient and caregiver. It is best explored through discussions with the care team to determine if it is a viable option for individual circumstances.