LTAC hospitals are facilities specializing in the treatment of patients with serious medical conditions requiring ongoing care but no longer require intensive care or extensive diagnostic procedures.
Short term acute hospital stay ≥ 5 days
Failed a lower level of care and required readmission
Lower nurse to patient ratio (similar to hospital ICU step-down unit)
Daily physician visits
What are Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals?
Long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) are facilities that specialize in the treatment of patients with serious medical conditions that require care on an ongoing basis but no longer require intensive care or extensive diagnostic procedures. These patients are typically discharged from the intensive care units and require more care than they can receive in a rehabilitation center, skilled nursing facility, or at home.
Where are LTACHs located?
LTACHs often are housed within the walls of an acute care hospital but function independently. LTACHs must be licensed independently and have their own governing body. LTACHs may also exist as a stand-alone facility. They may offer some outpatient services, such as laboratory or radiology procedures.
What types of patients are seen in LTACHs?
Under Medicare, the patient must need more than 25 days of hospitalization. The types of patients typically seen in LTACHs include the following:
Prolonged ventilator use or weaning
Ongoing dialysis for chronic renal failure
Intensive respiratory care
Multiple IV medications or transfusions
Complex wound care/care for burns
What are the criteria used for admission to an LTACH? (For Medicare and Medicare Replacements)
Patients admitted to an LTACH must meet either of the following:
Spent at least three (3) midnights in an intensive care unit during the immediately preceding IPPS hospital stay.
Received at least ninety-six (96) hours of respiratory ventilation services during the immediately preceding IPPS hospital stay.
What is DRG, 5/6 GMLOS, and GMLOS?
Every patient upon admission is assigned a DRG based on his or her diagnosis. A patient’s length of stay is based on the DRG. A patient needs to stay at least 5/6 of the DRG length of stay in order to receive full reimbursement. If the patient stays less than this, the LTACH receives partial reimbursement. The GMLAS is the latest a patient can stay. There is no additional payment after this date.
What's considered a Short Stay?
A short stay is any stay that does not meet the 5/6 GMLOS.
Examples:
Patient experiences an acute condition that requires urgent treatment or requires more intensive rehabilitation and you then discharge the patient to another facility
Patient does not require the level of care provided in an LTACH and you then discharge the patient to another facility
Patient discharges to his or her home
Patient dies within the first several days of admission to an LTACH
Patient exhausts benefits during the LTACH stay
Do you have parking facilities?
Yes.
Free Parking is available in front and around the Medical Centre.
