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 After orthopedic surgery, most patients return directly home from the hospital with ongoing therapy and/or nursing care.Your physician will discuss discharge plans with you prior to hospitalization. Depending upon your personal medical needs you could transition to:
- Home with outpatient therapy services
- Home with home health care therapy and/or nursing care
- A skilled nursing facility where nursing and therapy services are provided
- An inpatient rehabilitation facility where frequent physician/medical care, nursing and therapy services are provided
Your case manager will assist you with arrangements for ongoing care as needed including equipment needs, home health care or skilled nursing facility placement. For your safety and convenience when you get home, here are some suggestions on how you can prepare your home before you come to the hospital:
- Remove clutter and throw rugs. Remove or tape down any cords/wires. Know where flooring is uneven (thresholds).
- Have all areas of the home well lit (consider night lights in bathrooms and bedrooms).
- Widen pathways so that you may get your walker through.
- Have hand rails on stairs. Consider grab bars in the bathroom for assistance standing.
- Move things you might need to areas where you can reach them.
- Prepare meals to put in the freezer to simplify cooking.
- Arrange for help with shopping and transportation to appointments.
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