Get back on your feet, faster

Short-term rehab is designed to get you ready to safely return home after a hospitalization following an injury, illness, or surgery. It is there to provide therapy and healing so you can regain strength and mobility to live safely at home. 

Every patient's care plan may look different based on their condition, abilities, and needs. Below are a few sample scenarios of what your care could include:

• If you had a knee replacement, you might work with a physical therapist to regain strength, mobility, and balance so you can return to the activities you love.

• If you had a stroke and have trouble swallowing or speaking, you might work with a speech language pathologist to improve your abilities. 

• If you had a surgery or illness, you might work with an occupational therapist to help you get back to independently doing day-to-day activities such as eating, dressing, or climbing stairs. 

There are a variety of circumstances and conditions that might make good candidates for short-term rehab. Amongst these might be:

• Post-surgery care from operations such as:

  • Joint replacement

  • Cardiovascular surgery

  • Orthopedic procedures

  • And more

• Change in health condition due to:

  • Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

  • Pneumonia

  • Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)

  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

  • Stroke (CVA)

  • Heart Attack (MI)

  • And more

• Injuries such as:

  • Falls

  • Broken bones

  • Extensive wounds

  • And more

When you enter short-term rehab, your condition will be evaluated by our professional staff. They will assess your condition, needs, and previous health status.

Our team will work with you, your medical provider, therapists, care providers, and your family to determine and set reasonable goals.

Throughout your stay at short-term rehab, you and your care team will continue working toward your goals with the proper therapies and nursing care. 

Your condition and progress will be monitored throughout your stay, and your goals will be re-evaluated if need be.

Goals might include:

• Move from bed to a chair

• Get in and out of a car

• Walk with a walker or independently

• Climb stairs

• Dress yourself

• Bathe independently

• Get to the bathroom on your own

Your team includes several medical professionals who work together on your care:

• 24-hour skilled nursing teams

• Occupational therapists

• Physical therapists

• Speech therapists 

• And more 

How long your stay lasts depends on the time it takes to achieve your goals and how much progress is being made. For example, a knee replacement might take a few weeks. A stroke might take months. 

To be eligible for a Medicare paid stay at Knute Nelson Short-Term Rehab, you must meet the following criteria:

• You have Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance.

• You have had a qualifying hospital stay of 3 or more consecutive nights as an acute inpatient.

• You are transferred to Knute Nelson as you require skilled nursing and/or rehabilitation therapy related to the condition for which you were hospitalized.

• You are admitted to short-term rehab within 30 days of discharge from the hospital.

• A medical provider certifies that you need skilled nursing and/or rehabilitation services on a daily basis, and you receive those services.

If you meet the criteria above, you may be eligible for a benefit of up to 100 days*. It is important to remember that you must need and receive skilled nursing and/or rehabilitation services on a daily basis. 

*Not every Medicare eligible patient will qualify for the entire 100 days of coverage. Determination is made on an individual basis and according to Medicare guidelines.