Becker's Hospital Review

54 Executive Briefing Sponsored by: R ecent data shows patients admitted to short-term acute care hospitals (STACHs) have increasingly complicated medical conditions. This has led many hospitals to seek support from experienced management partners in the long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) space to help address the unique needs of this critical population. While medically complex and critically ill patients make up only 5 percent of the U.S. patient population, they account for 50 percent of healthcare spending, magnifying the need to properly identify the most efficient care delivery pathways for these patients. 1 Further, COVID-19 patients have led to additional growth in both critically ill and medically complex populations. Lack of access to the appropriate post-acute care setting for high-acuity patients often leads to discharge delays from STACHs. These delays can be detrimental for the patient and payers. Further, a transition to a lower-level of care such as a skilled nursing facility, that cannot provide physician-led acute care can lead to costly readmissions and an unfavorable patient experience. For these patients, treatment at an LTACH is often the most appropriate care setting for reducing avoidable delays in discharge and recovery. Through this brief, you will learn four of the many distinctive benefits of LTACHs to the sickest and most vulnerable patient population. You will also learn how adding LTACH services to your health system's care continuum or working with a management partner to optimize your current service can help reduce avoidable days, lower total cost of care and improve outcomes for the system overall. 1. Experience treating a growing medically complex patient population LTACHs are uniquely effective in treating medically complex patients — an already growing population that grew even more during the pandemic. Patients who benefit from LTACH care typically have spent three or more days in the ICU or require mechanical ventilation and have an average of nearly six comorbidities. 2 Furthermore, despite the growing complexity of LTACH patients admitted in the past year, LTACHs were almost 50 percent less likely than SNFs to discharge a patient back to the hospital. 3 An LTACH's expertise in treating medically complex patients continues to play a valuable role in reducing costly readmissions. 2. Cost efficiency and population health management As part of their commitment to patient recovery, LTACHs work with families and healthcare providers to identify critically ill patients who would benefit from continued acute care, as well as with payer networks to ensure these patients receive access to the most effective treatment for their diagnoses. Since LTACHs specialize in continued acute care and have 39 percent lower per-day payments than STACHs, they help contribute to an improvement in outcomes and in the overall cost efficiency of care delivery. 4 As such, LTACHs are important partners in value-based networks and ACOs. 3. Setting and physician staffing designed for highly acute patients LTACHs are licensed as acute care hospitals and are accredited by The Joint Commission. Patients at LTACHs benefit from onsite telemetry, diagnostic imaging and lab capabilities that reduce the need for outpatient services. They also receive 24/7 oversight from physicians, which could include those with subspecialties such as pulmonology, infectious diseases, nephrology, or neurology, as well as care from a team of clinicians that is customized to their needs. 4. Comprehensive rehabilitation for lasting recovery Along with intensive care unit treatment, LTACHs provide the rehabilitation care necessary for lasting patient recovery. The dangers of patient immobility are becoming clearer, including their link to rehospitalization rates. How LTACHs help health systems improve care and reduce cost "While medically complex and critically ill patients make up only 5 percent of the U.S. patient population, they account for 50 percent of healthcare spending." 5% 50% LTACHs specialize in continued acute care and have per-day payments than STACHs 39% LOWER

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