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Watch the interaction between management and staff. True encouragement and concern for patients are modeled from the top. Find out if management is available for answering questions or addressing concerns. Inquire about CARF (Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accreditation. CARF is an agency that evaluates rehabilitation facilities according to an exacting set of standards. You should know that if a facility is CARF accredited, it adheres to a higher quality standard. Ask about the expected length-of-stay and probable outcomes for the patient. The facility should be able to offer some objective data on its track record with former patients. Also, don’t be afraid to talk with other families and ask their impressions of the atmosphere and treatment at the facility. After the of official tour, take another look around the facility on your own. If free access is not allowed, be cautious. Also, you may want to make a second appointment to check things out during off hours. Some facilities can be poorly staffed on evenings and weekends. Another area to investigate is whether your insurance will cover your stay while receiving rehabilitation. Sometimes there are “gatekeepers” who can either approve or deny entry to various programs. Family members are encouraged to determine exactly who is making the decision to approve transfers to rehabilitation and what particular health plan criteria are being used. In the event of disagreements between families or patients and their health plan, there is usually an appeal process that may be requested. Sometimes a telephone call to the health plan’s membership services department can be helpful. You will absorb a great amount of information, but in the end, trust your instincts. |
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