Referrals for post-acute services, particularly skilled nursing care, are growing, but staffing shortages and patients with higher need at discharge are making it tougher for hospitals to connect patients with appropriate care after their stays, according to a late July report from healthcare technology firm WellSky.
The volume of post-acute referrals has risen higher than pre-pandemic levels. And since December 2022, skilled nursing referrals have increased by 10%, according to the report.
These higher referral rates reflect a growing need for post-acute services, yet staffing challenges in nursing homes persist. In fact, 87% of SNFs are facing moderate to high staffing shortages. As a result, 54% of nursing homes are denying patient admissions and 61% are limiting new admissions even as demand for care increases.
To make matters worse, patients in the hospital now have needs that are 6% more complex at discharge than they were in 2019. Not only does this increase hospital stays and strain staff, but it also makes it more challenging to manage care and safely transition patients to a nursing home.
The graying of the US population will continue to play a role in those higher-acuity rates. By 2030, WellSky predicts that there will be more than 70 million baby boomers aged 65 or older.
These people have a higher likelihood of having hypertension, arthritis and diabetes, which may also contribute to higher acuity rates.
As a result of its findings, WellSky recommends “collaboration between providers across the continuum of care.” Adaptation to a changing healthcare environment, the report stated, will be key to improving both acute and post-acute services.
“What happens in the post-acute setting has a direct impact on the hospital setting and vice versa,” said Lissy Hu, president of connected networks at Wellsky, in a statement. “Improving patient outcomes requires a holistic cross-continuum approach.”
From the September 2023 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
