Rehab Select Blog

If an injured or diseased joint is causing chronic pain and/or disability, joint replacement surgery is often the best means of treatment. These procedures have proven very effective in reducing pain, increasing function and mobility, and improving quality of life. However, if your medical team has recommended surgery for you, it is important to know that this procedure is not a quick fix. Realizing the potential benefits of joint replacement will mean spending quite a bit of time on recovery and rehabilitation after surgery—anywhere from 3 months to a year.

Has your healthcare team suggested that a stay in a short term rehab facility would be the best next step in your care after hospital discharge? If so, you likely have questions about the financial aspects of getting the care you need, and those questions are best dealt with before your admission to prevent unpleasant surprises later. Here, we'll outline what you need to know in terms of insurance considerations for short term rehab.

If you will be transitioning to a short term rehab program after a hospital stay, you are certain to have questions about just what to expect with that change. Among the most frequent concerns for patients making this transition are  how long their rehab stay will be and what will be expected of them as they enter this new and unfamiliar care environment. While specific answers to these questions can only be given on a case-by-case basis, there are some general guidelines that can help give you an idea of what to expect.

Orthopedic rehabilitation is designed for people who are living with disabling limitations—either temporary or permanent—due to orthopedic surgeries, musculoskeletal injuries, bone fracture or trauma, or degenerative joint diseases. Its purpose is to aid these people in regaining function and mobility lost to these medical issues. If such a program has been recommended for you, here are some of the ways it can work to help you feel and function better, getting you back into shape and back to your life.

Knee replacement, or arthroplasty, is a very common surgery. More than 600,000 of these procedures are performed every year in the United States, and it is considered one of the most successful and life-enhancing surgical procedures today. However, these results are not seen instantly. Rather, they develop gradually during the weeks and months following joint replacement surgery. If you will be having this procedure, learning what to expect during this time can help make the recovery process easier and less stressful.

The bundled payment model is on the leading edge of the trend towards value-based healthcare, as evidenced by the increase in new bundled payment programs being implemented in today's healthcare marketplace. The goal of payment bundling is to reduce healthcare costs without compromising quality of care. Since this alternative to the traditional fee-for-service payment model is relatively new, there are still questions in the minds of many as to whether it works as well in the real world as it does on paper. So what do we know about the dollars and cents of the bundled payment model?

Orthopedic procedures, such as joint replacement, are high on the list of medical episodes that are commonly reimbursed under the bundled payment model today. As common as they are, participation in orthopedic bundles has been optional in most cases, so it is still uncharted territory for many healthcare providers. However, with the launch of the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) initiative, participation in orthopedic bundles has become mandatory for providers who deliver care to Medicare beneficiaries within the 67 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) targeted under this program.

One of the most common questions people ask as they work with their healthcare team to plan joint replacement surgery is just how long it will take to get back to normal daily activities after the procedure. While the answer to that question will vary to some extent from one patient to another, here we'll get into the general details of what the average patient can expect as they work towards getting back to a healthy, active lifestyle after hip or knee replacement surgery.

The bundled payment model has been around for a while now and is becoming ever more common in the healthcare landscape. This offers providers who are new to this value-based payment model an advantage that the earliest adopters did not have: the opportunity to learn from the experiences of others. So, based upon that experience, what are some of the most important factors in the success of the bundled payment model?

If you are in the planning phases of an orthopedic procedure or are beginning recovery from surgery or injury, chances are that your healthcare team has suggested an orthopedic rehabilitation program to help ensure that you make your best recovery as quickly as possible. Orthopedic rehabilitation may also be suggested for you if you are living with arthritis, osteoporosis or other similar chronic orthopedic conditions. Whatever the underlying reason, if orthopedic rehab is something that you are considering, you are sure to have some questions about these programs. To help you along as you explore your rehabilitative options, here are 3 critical answers about orthopedic rehabilitation that can make it easier to make solid, well-informed decisions about your care.