Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) is a healthcare facility providing temporary, medically necessary rehabilitation and skilled nursing care after a hospital stay for an illness, injury, or post surgery with the goal of helping patients regain their ability to live independently.  A SNF provides a higher level of care than can be provided by a home health care agency, when a patient does not need the intensive care required in a hospital. 

 

Services: 

 

Skilled Nursing Care: Care is provided by registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), state tested nursing assistants (STNAs) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs).

 

Rehabilitation: Physical, occupational, and speech therapy to help patients regain skills and abilities lost due to injury, surgery, illness or recovering from a medical emergency. 

 

Clinical Management: Medication management, wound care, and other medical procedures. 

 

24-Hour Supervision:  Staff are available around the clock to provide assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, and eating. 

 

Length of Stay:  The average length of stay in a SNF is 1-3 weeks. 

 

Medicare Coverage:  Medicare Part A covers a SNF stay for a limited time under certain conditions when the patient has had a 3-day hospital stay prior to admitting to the SNF. 

 

SNF  vs. Long Term Care: Many SNFs offer long term care within their facility when it is not safe for a patient to discharge back home after a skilled stay and there are ongoing care needs for chronic conditions. Long term care is not covered by Medicare, therefore a patient would need to pay privately or qualify for Medicaid.