Let’s start with what is Acute Rehab:

Acute inpatient rehabilitation is a type of medical care that provides intensive rehabilitation services to individuals who have experienced a serious injury, illness, or surgery that has resulted in a functional impairment. The goal of acute inpatient rehabilitation is to help these individuals regain their ability to perform daily activities and to improve their overall quality of life.

Acute inpatient rehabilitation typically takes place in a hospital or rehabilitation center and involves a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and social workers. The team works together to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that is tailored to the individual’s specific needs.

The types of services provided in acute inpatient rehabilitation may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, recreational therapy, and other specialized services as needed. Treatment typically focuses on improving mobility, strength, coordination, balance, and other functional abilities that have been affected by the individual’s injury, illness, or surgery.

What is Sub Acute Rehab:

Rehabilitation in a nursing home, on the other hand, is typically designed for individuals who require ongoing medical care and assistance with daily activities due to a chronic illness or age-related decline. While rehabilitation services are still provided in a nursing home setting, they are typically less intensive and focused on maintaining the individual’s current level of function rather than improving it.

In addition, the staff and resources available in an acute inpatient rehabilitation setting may differ from those available in a nursing home. Acute inpatient rehabilitation centers typically have a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and social workers, who work together to develop a comprehensive treatment plan. Nursing homes may also have healthcare professionals on staff, but the range of services and expertise may be more limited.

Not all patients that are evaluated for acute inpatient rehabilitation are accepted. Sub acute rehab are at times the best options for patient’s. I am not here to diminish the value of sub acute rehab when appropriate.

Personally when I go evaluate a patient for acute inpatient rehabilitation here are some of the guidelines I use:

1. Medical stability: Patients who are medically stable and have no active medical issues that require hospitalization. This is what we refer to as the Goldilocks rule. A patient must be stable enough but also have medical necessity
2. Functional impairment: Patients who have significant functional impairment and require intensive therapy to regain their mobility, strength, and independence may benefit from acute inpatient rehabilitation.
3. Rehabilitation potential: Patients who have the potential to make significant gains in their functional status with intensive rehabilitation.
4. Ability to participate: Patients who are able and motivated to participate in an intensive rehabilitation program. Patients will need to be able to tolerate three hours of therapy a day
5. Social support: Patients who have adequate social support and resources, such as family members or caregivers who can assist with their care after discharge.

Why are insurance companies increasingly denying acute inpatient rehabilitations for patients that have been evaluated and accepted? My best educated guess is money. It is cheaper for an insurance company to send your loved one to a subacute rehabilitation. But if your family member qualifies for acute rehab is it right? Here are the facts and you decide: