Who Can Benefit from Long Term Acute Care?

Article submitted by Jaime Richard at Kindred Hospital
For more information, he can be reached at 899-1555.

Caring for patients with chronic and long term care needs is becoming increasingly more important as our society ages. A Long term Acute Care Hospital (LTAC or LTACH) is a vital entity within a comprehensive health care continuum. These hospitals can be free-standing or physically located within existing acute care facilities, i.e., a "hospital within a hospital".

Patients are admitted to LTACS following treatment in a traditional acute care hospital, but they no longer require intensive diagnostic procedures. Under Medicare guidelines, patients admitted to LTACS must be in need of a hospital for an average of 25 days and typically have multiple or complex medical conditions. The care provided is more individualized and resource-intensive than is provided in a skilled nursing facility or nursing home. LTAC hospitals generally use an interdisciplinary approach in addressing the treatment needs of patients. Care is designed for patients with chronic diseases or complex medical conditions.

Conditions appropriate for LTAC's are:

• Medically complex
• Respiratory disorders in Tracheostomy
• Ventilator dependent
• Cardiac/cardiovascular conditions
• Renal disease
• Oncology
• Wound care
• Re-constructive and extended post surgical care
• Rehabilitative-related diagnoses with complex tertiary needs

Benefits of a Long Term Care Hospital are:

• Extends the continuum of care
• Recognized by the Managed Care Payment Structure
• No limitation on type of diagnoses
• No limitation on age
• No limitation on scope of services provided
• Has the ability to cross-utilize services and resources within the health system continuum