The Differences in Long-Term & Acute Care Settings

Long-term and acute care settings describe health care organizations, both of which have nursing staff, dietary services, pharmacy service, housekeeping and maintenance support to assist in the functions of the facility. Long-term care and acute care settings are monitored by regulatory agencies and are subject to periodic inspections to ensure quality of care. Long-term care and acute care settings have the common goal to provide care and promote wellness, but there are fundamental differences in how they accomplish this goal.

Acute Care Setttings.

• Acute care settings are commonly referred to as hospitals.

  Acute care settings are what most people refer to as hospitals. The term acute is derived from the Latin word acutus, meaning sharp. In health care, the term acute refers to illnesses that have a sudden onset severe symptoms, not chronic. Acute care health facilities provide care for patients who are experiencing medical problems that have a rapid onset, severe symptoms or short duration. Acute health settings provide emergency care, sophisticated diagnostic tools and surgical interventions. Acute care facilities provide patient care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The staff consists of nurses, doctors, technicians, therapists and other ancillary staff who have a role in caring or supporting the patient. Acute care facilities have physicians who have practicing privileges in their organization. Those physicians may treat patients in the facility.

Long-Term Care Settings

• Long-term care settings provide a home-like environment.

  Long-term care settings are often referred to as nursing homes or skilled nursing facilities. While hospitals provide services to patients with an acute illness, nursing homes care for people with chronic illnesses. A chronic illness is one that will last a long period of time. The people in nursing homes are there for an extended length of time and are considered residents, as opposed to patients. Much is done to make this setting "home" like. Activities are offered daily. There is a Resident Council comprised of a group of residents, who have input into different issues related to care. This is considered the resident's home, so visiting hours are flexible. Nursing assistants provide care under the direction of a licensed nurse. There is a medical director and doctors who visit residents as needed. Many nursing homes offer therapy programs. The therapies are physical, occupational and speech. Rehabilitation service may comprise a large volume of care at these facilities.

Consider This

• Specialized care is offered at specialty hospitals.

  As the population ages and people live longer, healthier lives, the role of nursing homes has evolved. In the past, patients admitted to nursing homes received custodial care. Today, many nursing facilities provide services from hospice to respite care. Also, rehabilitation services to assist patients in recovering after surgery or injury are available. The intent is to prepare patients to return to home. In these scenarios, patients need care but not hospitalization. In addition to general hospitals, there are specialty hospitals, Some examples of specialty hospitals are, rehabilitation hospitals, children's hospitals, eye hospitals and psychiatric hospitals.

Regulations

• Patients and residents are told of their rights.

  Long-term and acute care settings are highly regulated. The State Department of Health monitors health care facilities and ensures regulatory compliance. Most acute care facilities follow the standards set forth by JCAHO (Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations). JCAHO sets standards for different types of health care settings. Long-term care facilities receive funding through medicare and are required to follow federal regulations called OBRA (Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act). In both settings, the patients have rights. Long-term care settings refer to the rights as resident's rights and are found in OBRA. In acute care, the rights are called the patient's Bill of Rights.