Healthcare Management Council Partners Generate Solutions for Reducing Rehab Services Referrals from Physicians at Hospitals

Streamlining rehabilitation services referrals and eliminating excess orders benefit both hospitals and their patients. The Healthcare Management Council's KnowledgeWeb helps hospital managers around the country improve their rehabilitation services performance and learn from each others experience.

(PRWEB) January 17, 2004 -- Physicians may order skilled therapy even when a patient doesn't necessarily need that level of intervention, according to The Healthcare Management Councils Rehabilitation Services benchmark. HMC Partner managers met through the HMC KnowledgeWeb (http://www.HMC-Benchmarks.com/hospital/tools_kw.shtml) to discuss how to reduce excess rehab services referrals.

Many HMC Partner Rehab managers noted that some physicians automatically ordered physical or occupational therapy in the hopes that someone will move their patient. In some hospitals, when these orders are given for patients, an initial evaluation is completed & the patient is discharged from rehab services with a note to the referring physician explaining why services are not needed. If the patient is stable & able to walk with non-skilled personnel, the rehabilitation staff will speak with the nurses regarding the expectation that the patient will walk with nursing staff.

Other facilities have developed mobility programs to alleviate the need for physicians to order therapy services. A screening process requires a physical or occupational therapist screen patients to ensure appropriate referrals. The mobility screen allows them to quickly evaluate a patient that doesnt need therapy but has mobility issues.

Rehabilitation managers consistently advocated open communication with the physicians regarding the patients therapy. Most find that the doctors are accepting of their input and are very approachable.

This idea is part of HMCs collection of Successes and Good Ideas," articles highlighting successful performance improvement measures in health care. For more information on these articles and other HMC hospital networking events visit http://www.HMC-Benchmarks.com/hospital/ccs.shtml

Contact: Shelley Burns (SHBurns@HMCOnline.net)
The Healthcare Management Council, Inc.
Area: Hospital Performance Improvement
Web site: http://www.HMC-Benchmarks.com
Phone: (262) 242-9471
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