LTACH Criteria
The most common respiratory diagnosis utilized for LTAC hospital admission
What is acute respiratory failure?
A common reason pulmonologists will refer a patient to long-term acute care.
What is ventilator weaning?
Due to the COVID Cares Act, some insurance companies now waive this to allow for quicker transfers of LTACH patients leaving acute care.
What is PRE-AUTHORIZATION? (authorization, pre-certification also acceptable)
This needs to be written by a MD, PA or NP services for LTACH.
What is an order?
This type of bed is available for patients with multiple wounds and limited mobility.
What is a sand bed?
A common kidney-related diagnosis often requiring HD
What is acute kidney failure? (AKI or CKD)
This treatment is provided in-room to patients experiencing renal failure.
What is hemodialysis?
Previous to the COVID Cares Act, LTACHs required this many nights in an ICU for a patient to meet criteria.
What is 3 mid-nights?
After obtaining the proper order, who is generally responsible for contacting the LTAC facilities?
What is the case manager or social worker?
Services offered at LTACH to evaluate and rehabilitate patients, specifically related to speaking and swallowing.
What is speech therapy?
Patients with STAGE ______ wounds are eligible for LTACH services
What is Stage IV?
Patients often require 6 weeks of this when treating certain infections.
What is IV antibiotics?
This federal insurance plan covering most adults over age 65 in the US does not require any prior-authorization for LTACH services.
What is Medicare?
Who is responsible for obtaining the proper clinical documents and submitting information to the patient's insurance company?
What is the clinical liaison?
This high flow oxygen device, available in the long-term acute care hospital, is often required for patients during their COVID recovery
What is a heated high flow nasal cannula? (Optiflow, vapotherm)
Patients with this diagnosis require specialized care after extended ICU stays. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this patient population is increasing.
What is post-intensive care syndrome?
Patient-specific exercise programs provided by these two specialists, improve patient strength, balance, and mobility, while also addressing debility that impacts one's ability to perform ADLs.
What is physical and occupational therapy? (PT/OT)
The number of days, presently waived by CMS, and usually the typical length of stay requirement for Medicare patients at LTAC hospitals.
What is 25?
This person or persons is ultimately responsible for choosing an LTACH facility.
Commonly administered in LTACHs and often utilized after major bowel surgery, this type of nutrition is provided when a patient is NPO, but doesn't have a PEG tube. Can also be used as criteria for LTACH placement.
What is TPN?
A provider or discharge planner with any questions about LTACH criteria should do this.
What is contact the clinical liaison for an LTACH who will review patient clinical and decide if they meet criteria.
What is debridement?
Relative to LTACHs, COVID-19 waivers were put into place primarily for this reason?
What is to alleviate the burden on acute care facilities during patient surges? (open up bed space, take non-critical patients out of surging communities)
After discharge from the acute care facility, the frequency a patient has visits from their attending physician in the LTACH.
What is daily?
Often found in LTAC hospitals, this device is utilized to improve healing for complicated wounds.
What is a wound vac?