The Beat of the Industry

Post-acute care and skilled nursing are often confused but serve different roles in patient recovery. While both aim to help patients regain independence after injury or illness, skilled nursing is a subset of post-acute care. Let’s clarify the distinctions between these two. What is Post-Acute Care? Post-acute care provides short-term support for patients who are stable enough to leave the hospital but not yet ready to go home. This care typically includes services like physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, IV therapy, and wound care. Depending on the patient’s needs, post-acute care can last from a few days to several weeks, or even longer for those in hospice care. Post-acute care services include: – Skilled nursing – Rehabilitation therapy – Long-term care – Hospice care – Respite care – Outpatient social work Care can be provided in various settings: – Long-term care hospitals – Inpatient rehabilitation facilities – Skilled nursing