Following Up with Your Patients
Do you ever wonder how some of your former patients are doing? What happened to them after they returned home? I often wonder how a few have survived once they left the SNF. And then there are the few I wish I could have monitored their transition from the SNF to home.
I did have this opportunity in a former position while doing home health out in the rural Midwest. Since that company was the only rent-a-therapist place around, we covered three small hospitals, several SNFs, and a couple of home health agencies. During my years there, I was fortunate enough to have had a few people who I saw for treatment while in the hospital, then in the SNF, and finally at home. With each step I saw them gain in their skills and confidence, but the final step to home seemed to initiate their biggest change in confidence.
At one other facility some time ago (pre-PPS), we used one Friday afternoon per month to call our recently discharged patients to follow up on them. Although the company viewed this as a marketing tool, as a therapist it was nice to hear that your former patients were doing well.
If you live in a rural area, your former patients might be your neighbors. In a smaller town, you may see them in the grocery store, on the street, or in church. Living in a large city, however, you may never see some of your patients again once they leave out the door. Some you know are going to be alright, but there's the few who you wonder about. The few who went home still challenged with one deficit or another.
Anyway, it's always nice to see one of your former patients and see how they are doing. As I said, in the big city you usually never see any of your former patients, but just this past weekend I happened to see a lady who was discharged about two months ago. She was doing well, which was nice to see, and further proof that therapy is an important part of the rehabilitation process.
Until next time, hope all your thoughts are good-
Tim