Post-Acute Care
As part of your care plan after you leave the hospital, your doctor may recommend you receive care at a nursing facility or in your home. Depending on your healthcare needs, you may be referred to a:
There are many providers to choose from, and we’re here to help make your choice a little easier — we’re committed to your well-being after you leave the hospital.
That’s why we’ve created El Camino Hospital’s Post-Acute Network of Aligned Providers — partners that share our values and commitment to quality care. To be part of this network, providers must meet measurements of quality and clinical services. Our team of experts evaluates our network providers annually to ensure they to meet the highest standards.
You can find many of our skilled nursing and home healthcare partners on the El Camino Hospital page on www.openplacement.com, a website that helps families find services for loved ones after they’re discharged from the hospital.
Skilled Nursing Facility Care
A skilled nursing facility provides 24/7 care. Your doctor may refer you to skilled nursing care if it will improve your condition or help maintain your health and prevent your condition from getting worse.
When you receive care at a skilled nursing facility, you can expect:
- A private or semi-private room.
- All meals and activities.
- Care from a multidisciplinary staff, including registered nurses, licensed practical and vocational nurses, occupational and physical therapists, speech-language pathologists and audiologists.
Examples of care you might receive at a skilled nursing facility include intravenous (IV) antibiotics or physical therapy for several hours a day. Your care team will develop a personalized treatment plan based on your needs.
Home Health Agency Services
Typically, you’re referred to home healthcare if you’re unable to leave home to receive therapy and nursing care in an outpatient setting. Home health doesn’t include assistance with activities of daily living, such as cooking or cleaning.
When you work with a home health agency, you can expect:
- Intermittent skilled nursing visits in your home, typically for a 60-day period.
- Care from registered nurses, licensed practical and vocational nurses, occupational and physical therapists, speech-language pathologists and medical social workers.
Examples of care you might receive from a home healthcare provider include intravenous (IV) antibiotics and physical therapy in your home.
Hospice Agency Services
You may be referred to hospice care if both a hospice doctor and your primary care doctor (or hospital doctor) believe your condition and prognosis are appropriate for hospice care. You may also be referred for hospice care if you’ve chosen to accept palliative (comfort) care instead of treatment to cure your condition.
Hospice care focuses on your comfort, managing your symptoms, and providing the best quality of life at the end of a terminal illness. Care can range from pain management to emotional support for you and your family.
Your hospice team may include doctors, counselors, pharmacists, registered nurses, licensed practical and vocational nurses, occupational and physical therapists, speech-language pathologists and volunteers. Typically, hospice care is provided at home, but it can also be provided in skilled nursing facilities or specialized hospice care homes.