Answers to Your Questions

If you or your loved one has been referred to Kindred Hospital, you may have questions. Here are some answers.

Why can't I stay at the short-term hospital?

Short-term hospitals excel at helping patients with acute conditions who can recover in a relatively short time – the average stay in a short-term hospital is about five days.

But some patients have more serious illnesses or even several illnesses at the same time. They require long-term care from an interdisciplinary team with a special expertise in caring for seriously ill, medically complex patients. That long-term team approach is what takes place at a Kindred hospital.

What’s the difference between Kindred Hospital and a nursing center or rehabilitation hospital?

Patients at a Kindred Hospital require a higher level of care than those in a skilled nursing center or other care facility. There is a physician in-house 24 hours a day, seven days a week and patients are seen at least once per day by their attending physician. Kindred also provides around-the-clock nursing care and respiratory therapy including hourly rounding.

What kinds of patients are appropriate for Kindred Hospital?

Kindred Hospital is generally the most suitable setting for patients with diagnoses of:

• pulmonary disease
• cardiac disease
• severe wounds
• kidney disease

Kindred manages more ventilators and employs more respiratory therapists than any other healthcare provider in America.

How does the admission process work?

A Kindred Hospital clinical liaison will meet with the patient’s care coordinator and review the patient chart to obtain a complete understanding of the hospital treatment, as well as past medical history. Once a patient is approved, a mutually agreed upon admission date and time will be established.

With more than a decade of experience, we recognize the importance of understanding and preparing for individual needs prior to patient arrival. The result is a less stressful transition process for both patients and families.

Will my insurance cover treatment at Kindred Hospital?

Part of the admission process outlined above includes verification of insurance. We accept most forms of insurance.

Our clinical liaison or a representative from our business office will answer any financial or insurance questions.

Will the patient have the same physician at Kindred Hospital?

All physicians are encouraged to follow their patients to Kindred Hospital. Should the current physician(s) decline, we will provide them with updates as to the patient’s medical status. Patients are seen at least once a day by an attending physician.
 
All of our physicians are board certified and cover a wide range of fields, including internal medicine, critical care and pulmonary care. A physician is in-house 24 hours a day, seven days a week to meet the needs of our patients.

Does Kindred provide rehabilitation services? When does treatment begin?

Rehabilitation services in our hospitals are provided by Kindred’s rehabilitation services division, RehabCare. We believe that early rehabilitation is essential for recovering strength and function. Our rehabilitation team includes:

• physical therapists
• occupational therapists
• speech-language pathologists

Assessment begins immediately, and service may be provided five days per week. The duration of daily therapy sessions depends upon the patient’s tolerance level.

Where are Kindred Hospital’s patients discharged?

Kindred patients are discharged to the next lower level of care. Many discharge options are available through Kindred, including:

• home
• acute and subacute rehab
• nursing centers
• assisted living residences