Post-acute care services have come a long way, but what was the reason for their relevance? Here we look back at this question and dive a little deeper into the history of post-acute care.
Essential Care and Post Acute History
In the past 35 years, post acute care services have seen a major boost in public support and Medicare spending. Before this, these facilities were a less-intensive care option for people who could avoid this type of medical setting. In 1984, Medicare implemented the prospective payment system where hospitals sought the option of using a “step down” facility in order to discharge patients sooner. This made post-acute services more desirable and is a key factor as to why the post-acute industry has been growing rapidly ever since.
The Help For Hospitals
Because hospitals were discharging patients sooner, this gave post acute care facilities an incentive to take in patients as soon as possible. Instead of using their own resources, hospitals can now make strategic decisions on the next steps for patients in their post acute journey. While it can be tricky to compare quality across facilities, health systems are working with post-acute care facilities in creating their own quality metrics and shared data to guide patients to certain facilities based on clinical need, quality, and outcomes.
In the last decade, post-acute care has evolved drastically by integrating itself into skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities to deliver high-quality services. Now, a patient can get post-acute help for a variety of problems. Many facilities now have the capabilities to treat more short-stay patients and provide in-depth medical care for people who require complex treatment.
A Growing Need For Essential Care
There is still a lot of potential for growth and more innovative trends are bound to take place in the post acute field. Some of the goals the industry has in mind is to lower the costs of their services and to offer customized services that are tailored to fit every patient’s needs. One route facilities are looking into is offering aides for at home care, this way patients can receive personable care in a comfortable environment. While there haven’t been many studies on how this affects patients regarding the quality of treatment, there are signs that show post-acute care services at home are cheaper.
South Coast Post Acute Provides Essential Care For You
At South Coast Post-Acute, we are open to new innovative ways in delivering high-quality care to all our patients. We provide rehabilitation therapy and treatment for our patients until they are fully ready to return to their daily lives. Contact us today to learn how our skilled post-acute staff can help you.