Post-Acute Rehabilitation at Paragon: Physiatry-Led Care for Mobility and Functional Recovery

Recovery after illness, injury, or surgery is not defined only by whether a resident completes therapy. The progress may also rely on pain management, medical stabilization, drug treatment, and consistent involvement in rehabilitation. This makes a coordinated clinical approach important.

Paragon Post Acute Care brings physiatry into that process, working alongside therapy and nursing while providing pain management and addiction medicine when those needs affect recovery. It is based on a model that keeps clinical decisions in relation to functional goals throughout Post-acute rehabilitation.

When Physiatry Becomes Part of the Rehabilitation Plan

Physiatry has a clinical perspective focused on function, mobility, and recovery. Paragon's physiatrists evaluate the resident's condition alongside functional limitations and collaborate with the therapy team to allow the resident to achieve their post-acute rehabilitation objectives, rather than as a singular therapy activity.

This may be especially important for patients who are weakened, have decreased mobility, pain, or other medical conditions that impact their recovery. Paragon describes its physiatry model as helping patients participate in therapy, proactively preventing functional decline with physician monitoring, and working in therapy teams to maximize rehabilitation outcomes.

How Post-Acute Care Services Support Rehabilitation Beyond Therapy 

A resident’s progress does not stop when a therapy session ends. Symptom, pain, mobility, and overall clinical status changes may impact the subsequent session and the recovery program as a whole. Thus, constant clinical supervision can be as critical as the scheduled rehabilitation.

Paragon's post-acute care services involve continuous provider support, twice-weekly in-person rounding, and administration, nursing and therapy coordination. The model provides the care team with opportunities to recognize and address issues that could be barriers to rehabilitation.

This may include:

• A change in pain or physical function.
• Clinical problems that can impact involvement in therapy.
• Medications or care plan considerations. 

Paragon’s Integrated Clinical Model for Complex Rehabilitation Needs

Physiatry That Keeps Recovery on Track

The model offered by Paragon Physiatry offers a functional and rehabilitation-focused clinical perspective. It involves evaluation of function, aiding mobility and strength, and collaborating with therapy staff to facilitate meaningful gains in rehabilitation.

Pain Management That Supports Mobility

The impact of pain may be on comfort, mobility, and therapy participation. Paragon’s pain management in skilled nursing facilities includes pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions, and includes joint injections, trigger-point injections and more. Emphasis is placed on control of pain and maintaining mobility and function.

Addiction Medicine Within the Recovery Plan

Opioid use disorder treatment or maintenance with medication is a clinical need for some residents during their post-acute care period. Opioid use disorder management, medication-assisted treatment, transition from hospital detox, and staff education on addiction awareness and safe prescribing are all part of Paragon's addiction medicine in skilled nursing facilities.

From Clinical Rounds to Decisions That Support Recovery

Paragon's post-acute care services model aims to maintain clinical accountability at the forefront of the post-acute reality. Its process can be understood through three connected stages:

1. Assess

The resident's clinical condition, functional needs, and factors that may impact rehabilitation are assessed by the provider.

2. Coordinate

Physiatry collaborates with nursing, therapy, administration and pertinent clinical staff to ensure consistency in care.

3. Adjust

If the condition or functional capabilities of the resident changes, the care plan can be adjusted to meet the new care needs.

Paragon offers in-person rounding twice per week and provider support 7 days per week, and care coordinators help ensure continuity of care and documentation.

FAQs

1. What Does a Physiatrist Do During Post-Acute Rehabilitation?

A physiatrist is a specialist who looks at function, mobility and recovery but also takes into account medical issues that may impact rehabilitation. During post-acute rehabilitation, Paragon's physiatry team collaborates with a therapy team to ensure participation, mitigate functional deterioration, and ensure clinical management is consistent with goals of rehab.

2. How Can Pain Management Support Rehabilitation in Skilled Nursing Facilities?

Pain management in skilled nursing facilities can treat acute, chronic, and post-surgical pain, which hampers movement or daily activities. Medication strategies, non-pharmacological care, and intervention as needed are used to promote comfort while maintaining mobility and rehabilitation.

3. When Does Addiction Medicine Become Part of Rehabilitation?

Addiction medicine in skilled nursing facilities may apply to a skilled nursing residence when a resident has an opioid use disorder, medication-assisted treatment, or a need for continuity of addiction services after hospitalization. 

4. What Makes Integrated Post-Acute Care Services Different?

Integrated post-acute care services integrate multiple areas of clinical services, instead of treating each one independently. Physiatry, pain management, addiction medicine, nursing and therapy coordination are integrated into a facility-centric model with continuous provider engagement at Paragon.

Conclusion 

Post-acute rehabilitation requirements may change during the length of a post-acute stay. A resident may regain mobility, have a new concern, or may have a new response to therapy than what was originally anticipated. As such, a recovery plan must be open to change, but not necessarily follow the same plan from admission to discharge. Paragon's continued provider engagement helps maintain a link between evolving rehabilitation requirements and clinical decisions. This may include evolving goals as mobility, strength, and independence improve and when a transition from rehabilitation to mobility to functional independence can be seen as residents progress.

Ready to strengthen rehabilitation? Connect with Paragon Post Acute Care to explore a physiatry-led approach tailored to the needs of your skilled nursing facility.