Hospital care and referrals
Long-term acute care in five questions
If the team recommends another hospital stay, start with one question. What treatment does my loved one still need each day? The answer helps the rest of the conversation make sense.
Many people have never heard of a long-term acute care hospital because the services are specially designed for people with unique medical needs who require serious care following a trip to the emergency room or an increase in symptoms of a chronic illness they live with.
When a physician recommends another hospital, families often ask why additional hospital treatment is needed. These five questions explain the role of Lakeview’s long-term acute care hospital in Waterford.
Why might my loved one be referred to Lakeview?
After a serious injury, surgery or worsening chronic illness, some people can transfer from their first hospital but continue to need daily medical treatment. The referring team may request a review when any of the following applies.
- Need more recovery time in a hospital setting
- Should be visited by their physician daily
- Have a condition that would benefit from care by a team of specialists
Length of stay depends on the treatments that still require a hospital and how your loved one responds. Ask what milestones would make another setting appropriate and when the team will review them with you.
Which medical needs can Lakeview review?
Tell the liaison about the following conditions when they affect ongoing hospital care. The diagnosis alone does not determine admission.
- Post-intensive care syndrome
- Respiratory conditions that require a ventilator to assist in breathing
- Chronic pulmonary disease
- Neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease
- Cardiac disease
- Kidney failure that requires dialysis
- Complex wound care
- Infectious diseases
- Complications following surgery
- Multiple chronic conditions
How does long-term acute care differ from skilled nursing and inpatient rehabilitation?
An LTACH provides continued hospital treatment for complex illness after the immediate crisis has improved. A skilled nursing facility can provide nursing and therapy for people whose needs can safely be met there. Review the frequency and intensity of the care needed.
At Lakeview’s LTACH, physicians see patients daily and nursing care is available around the clock. Therapy is coordinated with medical treatment. Inpatient rehabilitation focuses on intensive therapy for people able to participate, with hospital nursing and medical oversight.
How does the admission process work?
A Lakeview clinical liaison reviews records with the sending team. If the service is appropriate, Admissions reviews benefits and works through acceptance, timing, handoff and transport. Ask who will update your family when the transfer is confirmed.
As soon as your loved one arrives, they are assigned a case manager whose goal is to help transition to them to the next level of care, based on how much progress they make during their stay.
Will my insurance cover a Lakeview stay?
Admissions can verify benefits and identify authorization requirements. Ask your insurer about network status, your share of costs and any limits specific to the proposed service. Clinical acceptance and insurance approval are separate decisions.
For questions about a possible stay, call Lakeview Admissions at (262) 534-8509. During a stay, ask the bedside nurse who can help with your question.