Most people who need inpatient hospital services are admitted to an “acute care” hospital for a relatively short amount of time. But patients with medically complex conditions may be referred to a long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) – which also is certified as an acute hospital – for continued are beyond their original hospital stays.
Long-term acute care hospitals are specialized hospitals that provide extended recovery time for patients.
Typically, patients who are referred to LTACHs may have medical conditions that are too complex to allow them to be transferred to lower levels of care. When patients get to an LTACH, they’re treated by a medical team who provides specialized critical and long-term care (including ventilator weaning if necessary) services, including 24-hour nursing care and daily physician management.
Long-term care can make a difference.
A study published in Medical Care showed that in most cases, medically complex and critically ill patients had better results at a long-term acute care hospital compared with similar patients in other care settings.
So don’t hesitate to discuss options with a physician or healthcare provider and ask for recommendations regarding long-term acute care hospitals. Do your research so you can choose the best facility for you or a family member.