Any ONE of the following may trigger referral to LTAC after a five-day acute care LOS:
- Multi-system disease processes – e.g. diabetes, heart failure
- Frequent change in condition – e.g. increasing or decreasing oxygen saturation, diuretic needs, fluid balance
- Frequent medication changes – e.g. cardiac meds, repeated IV bolus of Mg or KCL
- Positive blood or fluid cultures (CSF, sputum)
- Patients who are positive for osteomylitis
- TPN patients with ileus or swallowing problems (need for speech therapy, nutritional analysis, frequent labs)
- Obese patients with poor respiratory status (hypoventilation) or who need CPAP or BiPap (sleep apnea)
- Surgical patients with postoperative complications (ileus, respiratory instability, pain control problems, wound infection)
- Orthopedic patients with complications (MI, diabetic control)
- Complicated diagnosis – e.g., new CVA with old head injury, multiple pathways
- Fragile medical conditions – e.g., respiratory problems plus new MI, COPD or CHF plus pneumonia
- Mechanical ventilation – invasive or noninvasive
Any TWO of the following may trigger referral to LTAC after a five-day acute care LOS:
- Recent stay in ICU or step-down unit
- High oxygen requirements (>5 liters/min)
- Debrided wound
- Complex wound processes – e.g., lymphedema, cellulites
- Infected wounds
- Wounds requiring whirlpool treatment or pulse lavage
- New tracheostomy
- Patients requiring frequent pain management (IV or pump)
- Patients requiring frequent physician monitoring (daily vs. weekly)
- Patients with frequent hospital admissions
- Patients with reported downward course at home over the past several months
- Patients who are NPO for a lengthy time (>7-10 days)
- Nutritional issues – e.g., decreased albumin, decreased protein, underweight, obese, cachexic
- Multiple wounds
Nursing home patients with need for complex management
Patients with evidence of deconditioning
Inappropriate Candidates for Referral:
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Patients refusing to participate in therapy
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Patients with end-stage disease – e.g., extensive cardiomyopathy (EF<20%), cancer with metastasis
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Patients with mental health issues
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Simple disease processes with short treatment course
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Patients without LTAC reimbursement benefits
To Make a Referral
If you have a patient whom you believe is an appropriate candidate for the LTAC level of care, you can refer him/her via one of the following convenient ways:
- By phone at 404-501-6226
- By fax at 404-501-6334
- Online via Allscripts Referral system (participating healthcare facilities only)
A member of our staff will perform an assessment at no charge and help you determine if your patient meets our admissions criteria. The assessment can be conducted at an acute-care hospital, in a nursing home, in the physician’s office or at the patient’s home. To schedule an assessment, call 404-501-6262. |