Hospitals
What it is
Every hospital discharge is a referral: to home health, skilled nursing, rehab, hospice, assisted living or personal care. Discharge planners have to move fast and need current, accurate options.
Federal rules require hospitals to help patients plan for discharge, to give a list of available home health agencies and nursing facilities where they apply, and to respect the patient’s choice.
Good to know
- Patients and families can choose any provider; the hospital may share quality information to help them decide.
- Medicare covers skilled nursing after a qualifying inpatient stay of at least three days.
- Utah Care Network is free for discharge planners: search the map, send a referral, and track it.
