Inpatient or Outpatient Rehabilitation: What’s Best for Your Needs?

by Audrey Marchand, MSN, LNHA, Administrator
Island Nursing and Rehab Center

After hospitalization or surgery, particularly when rehabilitation is prescribed, a crucial decision arises: should you choose an inpatient rehabilitation program or receive outpatient services at home? While outpatient care may seem more convenient, inpatient rehabilitation often delivers superior outcomes for many patients.

Rehabilitation, encompassing physical, occupational and speech therapy, provides intensive treatment with long-lasting benefits. It improves mobility, enhances the ability to perform daily activities, alleviates pain and reduces the need for future surgeries or medications. Opting for an inpatient program offers the advantage of focusing solely on recovery without the distractions of everyday life. This concentrated environment allows for quicker, more effective recovery.

Moreover, for patients with chronic conditions like kidney disease, heart disease or diabetes, an inpatient facility provides comprehensive care that addresses both rehabilitation and broader health concerns. For example, Island Nursing and Rehab Center in Holtsville, part of the Gurwin Healthcare System, delivers this specialized care through a multidisciplinary team. These teams may include physicians specializing in rehabilitative care, skilled nursing staff, social workers, recreation therapists and expert physical, occupational and speech therapists who work together to restore patients’ independence and functionality.

Inpatient Rehabilitation Benefits

A significant advantage of inpatient rehabilitation is the accountability and consistency it fosters. In this setting, daily rehabilitation sessions help to ensure continuous progress. On the other hand, outpatient services might be interrupted due to fatigue, poor weather or transportation issues. Missing sessions in outpatient care can lead to setbacks, which may have serious consequences, including:

• Falls: After surgery or hospitalization, weakened muscles and balance problems can increase the risk of falls, potentially leading to re-hospitalization.
  
  
• Infections: Reduced physical activity heightens the risk of infections, such as pneumonia.
  
  
• Decreased strength and endurance: A sedentary recovery period may elevate blood pressure, exacerbate heart problems and decrease oxygen levels, increasing the risk of strokes, blood clots or heart attacks.
  
  
• Increased pain: Without regular movement, joints may stiffen, worsening pain.
  
  
• Osteoporosis: Lack of activity can accelerate bone density loss, increasing the risk of fractures and falls.
  

As people age, maintaining flexibility, strength and overall fitness becomes even more critical. Inpatient rehabilitation programs, like those at Island Nursing and Rehab Center, offer structured environments with dedicated support teams, providing patients with the best chance for a successful recovery. Consulting with your physician can help determine if inpatient rehabilitation is right for you, ensuring a healthier and more independent future.

For more information or to schedule a tour of Island Nursing and Rehab Center, please call us at (631) 758-3336.

As seen in Long Island Press, November 2024