Explaining Subacute Rehabilitation Services and Benefits

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After spending days or weeks battling an illness or injury in the hospital, you’re likely eager to get back to your normal routine. However, the road to full recovery still lies ahead. While you’ve overcome the worst, regaining all your strength and abilities takes time. This is where subacute rehabilitation comes in to help speed you on your way.

What Are Subacute Rehabilitation Services?

It’s important to understand the distinctions between subacute rehabilitation (SAR), acute rehabilitation, and hospital care. Acute care involves intensive, around-the-clock treatment and monitoring for patients who are very ill or have suffered severe injuries. Therapy sessions in acute care are usually long and daily. The main difference is that subacute care is less intensive than acute care. Subacute care is for patients who are past the initial acute phase but still need some rehabilitation or assistance.

SAR aims to improve functional abilities over a defined period so the patient can be safely discharged back home. It may be appropriate for those who have progressed beyond hospital-level care but still require more specialized support than what can be provided at home. 

Patients receiving subacute care are more stable but require specialized care, such as wound treatment, IV medications, or help with activities of daily living. SAR is usually administered within a skilled nursing facility. Some SNFs (skilled nursing facilities) are part of larger hospital networks located on the same campus, while others operate independently. All SNFs must be licensed through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to deliver SAR services. 

Services Offered

A subacute center provides two main types of care.

1. Therapy 

Depending on their situation, people may receive physical, occupational, or speech therapy to improve balance, walking, and mobility after an injury or illness, such as a stroke, or cardiac fitness after a heart issue. 

2. Medical Care

Some patients may need additional medical care, such as help with breathing, wound treatment, antibiotics, pain management, dialysis, or other services.

Benefits of Subacute Rehabilitation Services

Subacute rehabilitation care helps in several ways. By choosing a reputable place, like Sierra Care, patients can make the most of the recovery services available. 

1. Ongoing Support Faster Recovery 

The staff of doctors, nurses, and therapists are there all the time to check how you’re doing. Having the staff watching closely means they can deal with any problems or possible setbacks right away, which is not possible while managing care alone at home. This close attention can potentially make recovery faster. 

2. Accessibility

For many, regularly accessing doctors, nurses, and rehabilitation services can be challenging, especially after injury or illness. However, a sub-acute facility solves this issue by bringing all the resources you require directly to you. Therapy, exams, and treatments are immediately available on-site. You aren’t at risk by commuting while fragile. 

3. Customized Care and Smooth Transition

A major aspect of subacute rehab is that every patient gets a treatment plan designed just for them based on their medical situation. It entails providing an important interim step as patients transition from initial hospitalization back to independent living. 

Endnote

Reuniting with loved ones as you recover is an amazing feeling, but getting there requires dedication, support, and belief in your abilities. Subacute rehabilitation provides everything you need to cross the finish line strong.