An elderly patient is covered under Medicare.She is scheduled for discharge and tells the nursing student that several therapists will come to her home to help her regain functional abilities.The patient then asks,"Why can't I just stay in the hospital and receive this type of care?" What is the nursing student's best response?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Home healthcare services are provided to patients who still require skilled care but are discharged from the hospital because the reimbursable length-of-stay has expired.The patient is stable and can receive provider services at home.It would be incorrect and misleading to tell the patient she "should be able to stay in the hospital." It would be incorrect to tell the patient she is allowed only "a certain number of days before being discharged," because the patient's condition is a factor in determining whether the patient can be discharged from the hospital.Telling the patient that she should be glad to be going home is a form of closed communication and does not address her question.

An Elderly Patient Is Covered Under Medicare