Skip to site content
Insights and Trends

Inpatient Rehab vs. Skilled Nursing: C-Suite’s Guide to Optimal Outcomes

All post-acute settings are not created equal.1 The growing rate of skilled nursing facility (SNF) closures has only reinforced this gap in care quality, leaving patients and hospitals straining to find care settings equipped and available to meet their unique needs.

One setting that has weathered the storm of shifting regulatory changes, population health transitions, a global pandemic, and the rise in medically complex patients: Inpatient rehabilitation.

2023 Performance: SNF vs. IRF2

      • Inpatient rehabilitation operations maintain a 70% discharge to the community rate, 37% higher than SNFs on average.
      • SNF average length of stay (ALOS) was 2X higher than IRF ALOS.
      • SNF 90-day readmission rate was 500,000 patients higher than IRF rates. 
      • SNF 30- and 90-day mortality were nearly 2X IRF mortality. 

But what enables IRFs to produce these exceptional outcomes?

Comparing Care Settings: IRF vs. SNF

License/Certification     

IRF

Certified as acute level of care. Licensed as freestanding inpatient rehab hospital/distinct rehab unit within a host hospital.

SNF

Licensed as a SNF.


Physician Involvement 

IRF

Daily physician visits.

SNF

Required physician visit during first 30 days; one visit every following 60 days.


Nursing

IRF

Receive specialized training in rehab nursing, pain management & medication, skin integrity and self-care training.

Provide 24-hour nursing care; intervention, assessment and monitoring of: VS, IVFs/antibiotics, ostomy, catheter, trach, NG care; routine labs & diagnostics and respiratory equipment.

Average nursing hours per patient day (NHPPD): 6+

SNF

Must have at least one RN for eight straight hours/day, seven days/week, and either an RN or LPN/LVN on duty 24/7; intervention, assessment and monitoring of: VS, IVFs/antibiotics, ostomy, catheter, trach, NG care; routine labs & diagnostics and respiratory equipment.

Average NHPPD: 4.1


Rehab Therapy and Admission Criteria 

IRF

Available to patients requiring intensive rehabilitation therapy (minimum of two therapy disciplines). Patients participate in therapy three hours/day, five days/week or 15 hours over seven days.

SNF

Patients must have a qualifying hospital stay for at least three patient days and a physician determines the patient requires daily skilled care from nursing or therapy.

PT/OT/ST available with a nondisciplinary approach to care. Level of participation, type and amount of therapy varies based on medical needs and functional potential.


Team Treatment

IRF

Interdisciplinary approach between physician, therapy team, social work and nursing to facilitate recovery. Physician-led weekly team conferences required.

SNF

Interdisciplinary approach between therapy and nursing to facilitate recovery.

               
Ancillary Services            

IRF

Services on site: pharmacy, lab, radiology, and all other hospital services.              

SNF

Services available, but not on site: pharmacy consultant, lab, radiology.


Patient Characteristics 

IRF

Medically complex patient demonstrates sufficient potential to participate in rehab and make significant functional and/or cognitive gains with the goal to return home or a community-based setting. Common admission patient description:

      • Stroke or other neurologic disorder.
      • Multiple major traumas to brain, spinal cord, or amputation.
      • Cardiac or pulmonary illness
      • Open health and general surgery.
      • Arthritic and pain syndromes.
      • Orthopedic fracture or bilateral joint replacement.

SNF

Patient demonstrates a potential for general health improvement. Common admission patient description:

      • CHF, post-COVID-19, COPD and diabetes exacerbation requiring monitoring.
      • Wound care greater than stage 2.
      • Orthopedic surgery.
      • Infections requiring ongoing IV antibiotics.


Contact us to learn how our customizable partner solutions can help your hospital meet your patients’ unique needs.

Read our full white paper, Achieving Optimal Patient and Hospital Outcomes: Why Care Settings Matter.


References:

  1. Nickels, T. (2020, June 24). AHA Letter on Resetting the IMPACT Act in Next COVID-19 Relief Package: Retrieved June 29, 2020, from https:// www.aha.org/lettercomment/2020-06-24-aha-letter-resetting-impact-act-next-covid-19-relief-package
  2. Skilled nursing facility (SNF) quality reporting program (QRP) public reporting. CMS.gov. (2023). https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality-initiatives-patient-assessment-instruments/nursinghomequalityinits/skilled-nursing-facility-quality-reporting-program/snf-quality-reporting-program-public-reporting

 

We use cookies to make our site work, including measuring elements related to the site's performance as intended. By using our site you agree that information about you and your visit may be collected and/or sent to third parties for these purposes. We do not sell or share your information, nor do we use analytics, advertisement, or other non-necessary cookies. For more information about our online privacy practices, please visit our online Privacy Policy.