WATC H
THE FULL
WEBINAR
on-demand at
http://www.ModernHealthcare.com/
AgingAmericaWebinarFIVE
TAKEAWAYS
AGING AMERICA: IS YOUR REHAB PROGRAM READY FOR THE EVOLUTION?
To accommodate high-acuity patients, the
clinical environment and its staff must become
more structured.A rehab physician should determine if an
Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) is necessary
and provide an individualized plan of care to
ensure improvement. In an IRF, the patient
participates in three hours of therapy per day,
fi ve days a week, as well as face-to-
face meetings with an advanced,
interdisciplinary medical staff to assess any
medical needs. Care initiatives including
follow-up calls and adult child caregivers
can also help rehab programs reduce
readmissions and provide alternative support.Advanced robotics are among the tools making
the biggest impact on this ever-changing patient
population.Assistive robots have increasingly made a difference
in the speed of recovery for rehab patients. The
Bionik InMotion robot physically guides brain injury
patients through motor tasks by supporting their
arms while also adapting to patients’ capabilities as
they improve. Another innovation, the EksoGT, is a
wearable robotic exoskeleton that supports patients
through the continuum of early mobility. The Ekso
is used in over 225 rehab centers to help stroke
and spinal injury patients relearn to stand and walk.There is a demand for rehab programs that
meet the needs of medically complex patients.About 11,000 people join Medicare every single
day; additionally, the population aged 85+ is
projected to increase by 123% by 2040. An older
population of patients means more comorbidities,
which equates to clinical and cost challenges.
The need for acute rehab has never been greater
for those who require intensive care.Acute inpatient rehab is highly
regulated and complex, differing from
other care settings.With the implementation of the IMPACT Act
on October 1, 2019, standardized patient
data will be gathered across PAC settings.
Without expert training on the new quality
indicator measurements, patient acuity may be
underestimated. Thus, accurate assessments
are needed to assure appropriate resources are
available. In addition, the rise of value-based
payment models requires comprehensive data
collection so high-performing rehab facilities
are included in provider networks.Inpatient rehabilitation leads to improved recovery
and better outcomes over alternative care settings in
many critical conditions, including stroke and trauma.Patients treated in an IRF are signifi cantly more likely to
be discharged home sooner and have an improved qual-
ity-of-life as well as a greater functional recovery. While
an IRF has a higher initial cost than post-acute settings,
IRFs can be highly cost-effective while improving care
transitions and have a reduced risk of mortality and hos-
pital readmission.The rise of medically complex patients
is demanding innovation in rehabilitation
services. Is your rehab program ready for the
evolution?During a webinar on July 24, Sally Brooks and Cathy
Knight of Kindred Hospital Rehabilitation Services
and Craig Bolda of Community Healthcare System,
joined together to discuss how rehab programs must
evolve to meet the needs and demands of an aging
America. The entire webinar can be accessed at
ModernHealthcare.com/AgingAmericaWebinar.