Planning for a Successful Recovery After Your Surgery
Do you have an orthopedic surgery or other elective procedure scheduled in the next few weeks or months? Any medical procedure can take a toll on your emotional, mental and physical health and while you might want to get to your own bed as quickly as possible, you can recover even more quickly if you plan to have the right support in place before you head back home.
Here are steps to take as you plan for the best possible recovery after your hospital stay, surgery or other procedure.
Double Check Insurance Coverage
No one wants to be surprised by a big medical bill or have to deal with switching hospitals at the last minute in order to meet your insurance requirements. Weeks before your surgery, contact your insurance company and double check your benefits so that you can be confident in your coverage.
While you’re checking coverage, don’t forget about your Medicare skilled nursing days. Medicare will pay 100% of skilled nursing, or health care center, costs for 20 days after a three-night qualifying hospital stay. On day 21, coverage drops to 80%. These skilled nursing coverage days are ideal to use for a few weeks as you rehabilitate and recover after the hospital and before you return home.
Know What to Expect
While complications can always arise, your physician can give you a good idea of what to expect during your recovery. They can tell you what to expect when it comes to pain and mobility, which can help you plan accordingly. While there is no place like home, if you know you will need comprehensive pain management and assistance with getting around, a stop in a healthcare community can be the perfect solution for your successful recovery.
Rally the Troops
You shouldn’t be the only one who knows about your upcoming surgery and your recovery plan. Be sure you tell your family members, as well as trusted friends and neighbors. Write down tasks you know you will need assistance with and then ask those around you if they can commit to one or more tasks. For example, can your neighbor grab your mail while you are gone and can your daughter make you meals and drop them off a few times per week?
Choose a Healthcare Community
If you know that you will be taking time to get intensive physical and occupational therapy, along with around-the-clock pain management and assistance, at a skilled nursing community after your hospital discharge, pick a community long before your surgery date. Most healthcare communities are used to working with savvy and healthy adults who are planning their procedures. They can give you a tour, check your Medicare benefits and even let you choose the room you will recover in after your hospital stay.
Communicate with Your Discharge Planner
When you are out of surgery, you will be assigned a discharge planner from your hospital. Be sure to communicate your preferences with them, including your healthcare community choice. If you are worried that you will be in too much pain to communicate well, type out your plans and give the document to the discharge planner.
Take It Slow and Steady
The best recovery is a slow and steady one. During your time at the hospital and then at the healthcare community of your choice, spend time resting in between therapy sessions or mobility work. The steadier the recovery, the safer and healthier you will be when you return home.
If you are searching for skilled nursing in Shreveport, we would love to give you a tour of Village Health Care at the Glen. We are committed to supporting you as you recover so that you can return home as quickly as possible.