Navigating care options for you or a loved one can feel overwhelming, especially when you hear terms like "skilled nursing " and aren't sure what they mean.
In simple terms, skilled nursing is licensed medical care.
It is licensed medical care provided by Registered Nurses (RNs) or Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), ordered by a Physician to be delivered right to a patient in their own home.
Skilled nursing services monitor re-hospitalization risk factors, high-risk medication interactions, side effects of all current medications, and signs of infection. These are all issues that are caught before they turn into an ER visit. Nurses educate patients on pain management and train patients and caregivers on disease management through diet, medication, and lifestyle modification. A nurse notices changes a family member might miss.
Our skilled nurses monitor vitals, treat chronic conditions, and train patients in disease management, medication reconciliation, and lifestyle modification. All monitored services are under the care of your ordering physician. This care is customized based on your clinical condition and individual medical needs. Skilled nursing brings that level of licensed medical care to the home, especially when leaving home is a taxing effort and you are homebound.
Because skilled nursing is physician-ordered, the nurse executes and reports back on your care plan, coordinates care, and provides risk management. This keeps the doctor informed of your progress, concerns, and deviations.
We work directly with your physician, hospital, and nursing home discharge planners to keep your care plan patient-centered and everyone involved in your care on the same page.
Ongoing, physician-directed care for chronic conditions, with referrals to:
all working to minimize risk of re-hospitalization while stabilizing and improving your health right at home.
Nurses can be an integral part of treatment for active infections, teaching and training patients on infection control at home. They provide early education on identifying infection risk based on your diagnosis and condition, helping prevent the spread of infection before it starts.
Nurses reconcile medications, check for duplications or missing medications, and teach/train patients on all current medications and potential side effects. They coordinate with your physician and pharmacy to ensure you are taking the right medications according to your physician's recommendations, schedule, and dosage.
Nurses also provide instructions on which side effects should be reported to your physician and when to call 911 or seek emergency care.
We provide recovery support after surgery, including monitoring for complications and helping you regain strength safely.
During each skilled visit (whether nursing, physical therapy, or occupational therapy), our clinicians monitor vital signs and report any readings outside safe parameters immediately to your physician, catching problems early before they become emergencies.
This coordinated oversight helps catch small changes before they turn into an ER visit or hospital readmission.
Wound care is provided per physician orders, including dressing changes and monitoring of surgical or chronic wounds to prevent infection and support proper healing. Patients and caregivers are trained in wound care dressing changes. For non-healing wounds, a referral is made to a home-visiting wound care physician if needed.
Skilled nursing may be right for you or a loved one if you are:
