Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1393415
55 Executive Briefing Studies show keeping patients in a bed or in a chair can increase the likelihood of muscle atrophy, blood clots and wounds. 5 Furthermore, patients who spend extended time in the ICU, including those recovering from COVID-19, are at a higher risk of developing post-intensive care syndrome, which can have a long-lasting impact on patient well-being. 6 At an LTACH, medically complex patients receive comprehensive therapy in addition to continued critical care, which strengthens their muscles, increases cardiovascular and pulmonary endurance, and improves their cognitive communication skills and psychosocial well- being. This level of rehabilitation is made possible through interdisciplinary teams of respiratory therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists who have extensive training and are widely recognized for their ability to wean patients from ventilators. In summary, these four clinical benefits lead to improved patient access and care quality, reduced readmissions, shortened length of stay and ultimately lower total costs for the health system. While the benefits of having LTACHs within the health system's care continuum are clear, developing and running a fully optimized LTACH can be challenging because of the complex patient population and highly regulated space. Partnership with an experienced LTACH operator can help ease the burden while still providing the many benefits to patients and the health system. Kindred delivers value-enhancing services to partner hospitals through: • History of successful joint-venture partnerships and management agreements. Kindred partners with more than 300 of the leading hospitals across the country in many different service lines. • Best-in-class clinical quality. Kindred's long history of treating high-acuity patients has allowed Kindred to achieve industry-leading clinical performance that exceeds national averages and peer groups in key indicators. • Longstanding LTACH-specific expertise. Kindred helped pioneer the long-term acute care hospital model three decades ago through developing the first hospitals in the nation specialized in pulmonary treatment and continues to lead the nation in caring for medically complex patients. • Lower costs/value-based modeling. Kindred brings unparalleled operational efficiency, optimization and has significant expertise in working with nationally- based health plans to ensure alignment with their goals to improve outcomes, reduce denials and lower overall cost of patient care. • The latest clinical innovation and technology. Kindred has a history of pursuing innovation with developments such as RehabTracker, Kindred's proprietary patient engagement app and AfterCare, a Registered Nurse follow-up program. To learn how your health system could benefit from an LTACH partnership with Kindred, visit KindredLTACHPartner.com. n References 1. Kaiser Family Foundation calculations using data from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Household Component, 2010 2. Kahn, Jeremy M et al. "Long-term acute care hospital utilization after critical illness." JAMA vol. 303,22: 2253-9. doi:10.1001/ jama.2010.761, 2010 3. ATI Advisory. "Role of LTAC Hospitals in COVID-19 Pandemic", 2021 4. Kindred Healthcare calculations using data from CMS MEDPAR, 2019 5. Ward, Lisa. The Wall Street Journal. "Hospitals Increasingly Tell Patients to Get Up and Move", 2017 6. Ohtake PJ, Coffey Scott J, Hinman RS, et al. "Impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions experienced in the first year following a critical illness: protocol for a systematic review." BMJ Open;7:e013847. doi: 10.1136/ bmjopen-2016-013847, 2017 Kindred Healthcare partners with health systems to develop new or optimize existing LTACHs through hospital- within-a-hospital, contract management and joint-venture freestanding opportunities. For more than 30 years, Kindred has worked with patients and health systems across the country to improve outcomes, reduce readmissions and help patients transition to home or a lower level of care. Along with intensive care unit treatment, LTACHs provide the rehabilitation care necessary for lasting patient recovery.