Choosing a healthcare facility for yourself or a loved one is a difficult - often stressful - decision. LifeCare wants to make this process as easy as possible by providing answers to many of the most frequently asked questions.
Do LifeCare Hospitals offer critical and intensive care?
Yes. Every LifeCare hospital is fully staffed and equipped to treat medically complex patients who require intensive medical care for an extended period of time, generally more than 25 days. Unlike other hospitals, we believe introducing aggressive rehabilitation therapies early in the recovery process - often at the bedside - can produce stronger clinical outcomes and reduce a patient's length of stay in the hospital.
How are LTACs different from general acute care hospitals and nursing homes?
Long term care hospitals offer structured programs for patients suffering from critical illness or injury. Unlike general acute care hospitals, which focus on stabilizing the patient's medical condition and treating them for a shorter period, and nursing homes, which are not equipped to provide intensive medical care, LTACs specialize in providing both intensive care and therapy services to patients with medically complex conditions.
Are LifeCare nurses and physicians qualified to care for critically ill, medically acute patients and/or rehabilitation patients?
Most LifeCare nurses are ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) providers and many are specially trained in critical care as well as rehabilitation. Physicians on our medical staff are either board eligible or board certified in a broad array of specialties including internal medicine, pulmonology, cardiology and physical medicine/rehabilitation. These caregivers work with other members of the treatment team including nutritionists, therapists and case managers, to share information across medical disciplines and help the patient meet his or her recovery goals.
Are nutritional needs analyzed and addressed?
Absolutely. We take a holistic approach in developing a personalized treatment plan for each patient, which includes a strong nutritional component. Each patient is assigned a dietician who works closely with other members of the treatment team to create a nutritional plan tailored to the patient's needs and preferences.
Does the hospital have case managers to provide me with regular updates and assist with discharge planning?
Yes. In fact, many of our case managers are certified or are actively seeking certification while others are degreed social workers. These individuals work to develop and maintain a plan of care that incorporates LifeCare's core clinical standards, bringing together other members of the treatment team for routine meetings on the patient's progress. Case Managers also provide education, support and discharge planning services to patients and their families.
How often do patients have access to their physician and other members of the treatment team?
Patients have access to members of their treatment team 24 hours a day. Each patient's care is overseen by a physician who monitors the patient's progress daily and develops a treatment plan based on his or her individual needs. Patients also have round-the-clock access to nurses, respiratory therapists and other professionals trained in both critical care and rehabilitation therapies.
How often does a patient receive therapy each day?
All patients receive therapies according to their tolerance and their need. While we believe patients at all stages of the recovery process benefit from early and aggressive intervention and therapy, we develop a tailored plan of care for each patient based on his or her abilities and needs.
When and how is a patient's plan of care reviewed?
Following an initial meeting with the entire treatment team, each patient's progress is reviewed by the team typically on a weekly basis or more frequently as needed. By sharing information across medical disciplines, members of the treatment team - including physicians, nurses, therapists, nutritionists and case managers - are able to set and meet common goals of healing and recovery.
What insurance plans does LifeCare accept?
LifeCare Hospitals are Medicare certified and accept most insurance plans. For a full list of the plans accepted by each of our facilities, please visit Our Hospitals and click on the Insurance Plans tab on the facility page of your choice.
