The therapy program of a senior care community is a vital component and drives successful patient outcomes. It is so vital that we must understand the benefits and pitfalls between having in-house versus contract therapy. Knowledgeable providers understand this difference and examine a multitude of factors across their nursing and rehabilitation centers when considering which model is ideal for their operation to ensure short- and long-term success.
As mentioned, there are two rehab models, in-house and contracted. They both have their place in a senior care community depending on size, location, and other unique attributes. Here are 5 reasons in-house therapy can benefit residents and a skilled nursing center.
- One Unified Team: With in-house therapy services, everyone is part of your senior care community team. A collaboration of the interdisciplinary team occurs by all departments reporting and being responsible to the community. This is helpful to keep the team on the same page. While both the in-house and contract models have proven effective, the collaboration, communication, and support of each other are what make a program successful.
- Save Time + Reduced Workload: It is now necessary to maintain expert knowledge and quickly adapt to the frequently changing Medicare program. A keen understanding of Medicare rules and regulations while still maintaining the ability to treat geriatric and medically complex patients is not easily balanced by a therapy team. Having in-house therapy keeps the entire interdisciplinary team knowledgeable of the same information related to the Medicare rules and regulations.
- Patients First: Having an in-house therapy program not only helps a senior rehab center to be more compliant and profitable but also puts patients first. How so? The nursing and rehabilitation departments working in tandem on the same team to deliver quality patient care without cross functions. Having in-house therapy services can align the goals of the therapy department to match those of other departments in a senior community.
- Personal Touch: Many high-quality therapists are attracted to the stability of in-house therapy positions, making it easier for a community to staff and retain top talent. With therapists as permanent members of a team, the therapist’s commitment as an employee is to the patient’s home and not a business. In addition, typically the in-house therapy team is given more independence on how therapy is delivered. Many skilled nursing centers with in-house therapy programs can develop and expand specialty programs beyond the standard orthopedics to other conditions such as cardiac rehab, amputee rehab, and Parkinson’s care building on the expertise of the team they have built.
To recover from illness, surgery and hospitalization patients want effective high-quality rehabilitation whether it is provided by a contracted or in-house team. Click here to meet the Grace Pointe In-house therapy team.
