Choosing a rehab facility
Rehabilitation (rehab) services are provided in many different places, including:
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Acute care and rehab hospitals
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Subacute facilities
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Long-term care facilities
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In the home by home health agencies
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Hospitals
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Inpatient rehab centers
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Outpatient rehab centers
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Community health settings
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Private practice
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Schools
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Industrial health centers
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Veterans Affairs medical centers
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Military health care centers
Here are some general questions to ask when trying to choose rehab facilities and services:
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Does my insurance company have a preferred rehab provider that I must use to qualify for payment of services?
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What is the cost? Will my insurance company cover all or part of the cost?
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How far away is the facility? What is the family visiting policy?
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What are the admission criteria?
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What are the qualifications of the facility? Is the facility accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)?
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Is the facility well-maintained, clean, and safe?
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Has the facility handled treatment for this type of condition before?
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What are the staff's credentials?
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Is therapy scheduled every day? How many hours a day?
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Is a qualified physical therapist on staff and involved in plan of care and treatments?
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What rehab team members are available for treatment? How is the patient and family included in planning care?
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What type of patient and family education and support is available?
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Is there a healthcare provider onsite 24 hours a day?
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How are emergencies handled?
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What type of discharge planning and assistance is available?
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What can be done if care is unsatisfactory?
Important points about rehab programs
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Exercise is key. A rehab program should have supervised exercise training at least twice a week. This should include endurance training, interval training, resistance and strength training, upper and lower limbs, and walking exercise. Flexibility, muscle training, and neuromuscular electrical stimulation can also be included.
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Look for a customized approach. Rehab treatments should be customized for each person. This helps to achieve the best personal functional gains. A customized approach can be done in different types of rehab settings.
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Community-based and home-based programs. If the frequency and intensity of the programs are the same, community-based and home-based rehab programs are as effective as hospital-based programs.
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Programs for COPD. For people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a traditional pulmonary rehab program with supervision is the most effective option. If someone with COPD is unable to go to a traditional program, then home-based exercise is an option. But it may be less effective.
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Help at home for shortness of breath. Standardized home-based pulmonary rehab programs improve shortness of breath (dyspnea) in people with COPD.
What is CARF?
CARF stands for Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. It's a private, not-for-profit organization that accredits rehab programs with some of the following services:
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Adult day services
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Assisted living
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Behavioral health services
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Medical rehab
CARF helps to promote and assure standards of quality for these programs. It focuses on optimal outcomes for people served.
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