Picking the inpatient rehabilitation facility is one of the critical decisions toward recovery. Whether recovering from a stroke, a traumatic injury, surgery, or from a chronic condition, the right facility makes all the difference in outcomes.
More than 1,200 Medicare-certified inpatient rehabilitation facilities are available in the country. This guide will help you navigate the process by using research, expert recommendations, and available resources. For a very customized search experience, Compare Inpatient Rehab offers directory that may help identify the appropriate services that would work best for you.
What is Inpatient Rehabilitation?
The inpatient rehabilitation centers give full-time care to patients who have serious medical conditions. The patients would be required to stay in the facility where they receive 24-hour medical supervision and participate in other comprehensive therapy programs. The goal of inpatient rehabilitation is to regain, restore function and prevent complications, or hospital readmission for the patients.
According to the American Hospital Association, inpatient rehabilitation greatly enhances recovery outcome for stroke, brain injury, or major surgery patients. Patients in inpatient rehab centers receive an average of 3 hours per day of therapy tailored for their needs. This therapy may include specific treatments from physiatrists, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists for comprehensive treatment of the patient.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing an Inpatient Rehabilitation Center
1. Accreditation and Certification
The best rehabilitation centers should be certified by either Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) or Medicare certification. Such certifications are earned based on the highest standards in care, safety, and therapy treatment. Statistics from Medicare reveal that accredited centers have lesser rates of readmission of patients in hospitals as compared to those without accreditation, showing that it is essential to choose a center with accreditation.
2. Staff Expertise
The quality of care given in the rehab center is primarily dependent on the professional qualifications and expertise of staff members. In looking for a rehab center, one should look for a highly balanced team consisting of a certified physiatrist, physical and occupational therapists, speech therapists, and neuropsychologists. There are studies that have proven that centers with a good staff-to-patient ratio tend to give individualized care leading to better results.
3. Proximity and Accessibility
Choosing a center in your area will give you not only a psychological feeling of comfort but also the convenience of closeness. Most centers encourage family visits during the recovery process because studies show that the patient's recovery highly improves when the family can access the facility conveniently. Directories such as Compare Inpatient Rehab give the user the ability to search and compare facilities according to various factors such as services offered and patient reviews.
4. Patient Outcomes and Success Rates
You should also look at the success rates of rehabilitation of a center to understand the center's quality of care. Metrics to look for include average length of stay, discharge success rates, and functional improvement scores. Facilities with high percentages of discharges and low readmission percentages are likely to offer very effective rehabilitation programs.
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) reported that facilities with a lower patient-to-staff ratio and higher levels of patient engagement report 20 percent better functional outcomes following therapy.
5. Specialized Services
Each rehabilitation center specializes in different areas. Some facilities specialize in stroke rehabilitation, whereas others may specialize in traumatic brain injuries (TBI), spinal cord injuries, or post-surgical recovery. Facilities specializing in stroke rehab would very well be able to provide robotic-assisted therapy, functional electrical stimulation, and other advanced techniques known to improve motor skills and cognition.
According to the National Stroke Association, a patient placed in an accredited facility and receiving specialized stroke rehabilitation is 30% more likely to regain functional independence than a patient who receives general rehabilitation services.
Finding the Best Inpatient Rehabilitation Centers Near You
When finding the best rehabilitation center, it's important to compare facilities using reliable tools and resources. Here are some steps you can follow:
1. Use Online Directories
Platforms like Compare Inpatient Rehab makes it easy and simple to search for rehab centers by location, service offered, and even patient outcomes. It lets you filter your options according to important factors, which include Medicare certification, specialized services like stroke or brain injury recovery, and facility type.
2. Seek Referrals from Healthcare Providers
Your healthcare provider can offer valuable recommendations based on their experience with local rehab centers. Doctors often have firsthand knowledge of the quality of care at different facilities and can help guide you toward the most suitable center to meet your needs.
Specialized Services at Inpatient Rehabilitation Centers
Different rehabilitation centers offer specific service offerings that cater to specific medical conditions. Here's a closer look at some of these specialized services you might need:
1. Stroke Rehabilitation
Many stroke patients need to undergo special therapy to regain speech, motor skills, and cognitive abilities. Rehabilitation facilities that treat stroke also may include speech therapy, occupational therapy, and even advanced mobility treatments like robotic gait training. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported that stroke survivors who receive dedicated stroke rehabilitation services display a 20-30% improvement in regaining functional independence in comparison with those receiving general rehab services.
2. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Rehabilitation
TBI rehabilitation hospitals use advanced modalities such as cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy, and neuro-rehabilitation for the rehabilitation of all physical and psychological impairments resulting from brain injuries. A report released in 2022 by the Brain Injury Association of America mentions that 75% of patients in specialized TBI centers experienced significant recovery of their cognitive capabilities within six months.
3. Orthopedic Rehabilitation
Orthopedic rehab centers offer specific programs of physical therapy for patients with joint replacements or fractures. Patients who receive orthopedic rehabilitation are 40% more likely to recover mobility within the first three months than patients who do not engage in a structured rehab program, according to American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).
Key Metrics for Evaluating Inpatient Rehab Centers
Some of the key metrics to compare between inpatient rehabilitation centers include:
1. Patient-to-Staff Ratio
The better the ratio, the more personalized care and attention a patient will receive, which is a primary focus for rehabilitation outcomes. The Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development study shows that rehabilitation centers having a patient-to-staff ratio of 4:1 showed higher patient satisfaction, along with better functional outcomes.
2. Discharge Success Rates
Facilities that have a high success rate of discharge indicate that patients are successfully recovering and returning home after treatment. Generally, centers with a discharge success rate above 80% are considered the best in the industry.
3. Functional Gains
Many centers also report functional gains made by patients during their stay, such as improvements in mobility, cognition, or daily living activities. The American Physical Therapy Association states that the centers that report more than 70% as functional gains are generally more successful centers at long-term recovery.
Final Thoughts: Making the Right Decision
Choosing the right inpatient rehabilitation will most definitely be a life-altering decision. By considering important factors such as accreditation, services, staff expertise, and patient outcomes, you can ensure that you or a family member receives quality care. To compare facilities and find inpatient rehabilitation best suited for your or a family member's needs, visit Compare Inpatient Rehab.
References
- American Hospital Association. (2023). Inpatient Rehabilitation Overview. Available at: https://www.aha.org
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). (2022). Medicare and Rehabilitation Services. Available at: https://www.medicare.gov/
- National Stroke Association. (2023). Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery. Available at: https://www.stroke.org
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). (2022). Orthopedic Rehabilitation Guidelines. Available at: https://www.aaos.org