At some point in your life, either you or a loved one may need medical attention. In most cases, you receive the care you need and are then sent home to recover. In some cases, an injury or illness requires more rehabilitative care than what is offered in a traditional hospital setting. In these cases, you or your loved one may be sent to a facility that offers skilled nursing care.
Skilled nursing care is care that is needed either after a hospital stay or a surgery. This care can be anything from physical and occupational therapy to diabetic management to respiratory care. Some people are sent to a skilled nursing facility due to weakness from a recent stay in the ICU. Typically, a stay in a skilled nursing facility can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, though there may be cases in which a patient requires long-term care. The nurses at a skilled facility have the knowledge and expertise to handle most medical situations. In many cases, nurses are called upon to do bandage changes, replace IV bags, clean wounds, give pain medication and clean out and replace catheter bags. In all skilled nursing facilities, RN’s are on duty as well as CNA’s (Certified Nursing Assistant) who take vital signs and help with baths and bandage changes.
When looking for skilled nursing therapy in Lubbock, you will want to ensure the patient’s needs are being met. For example, does a patient ring their call button only to be told that someone will be right with them, and an hour later they are still waiting for care? Or, is the resident doctor being apprised in a timely manner of all the updates with a patient throughout the day? Does the patient receive physical and occupational therapy as needed? Each of these items are areas you will want to look for when touring skilled nursing facilities, ensuring you or your loved one is getting the care they need. Some skilled nursing facilities offer resort-like settings, making a patient feel more at home, whereas others are more hospital-like. You need to choose a facility that will suit your needs.
While all skilled nursing facilities offer similar care and value structures, they are not all the same. Click here to locate a skilled nursing therapy in Lubbock near you.
