My 84 year old mother was hospitalized for 5 days for myopathy. The change in her abilities pre and post stay is staggering.
Prior to her hospital stay, she was completely independent, only needing a cane for balance. Since discharge, she has been mostly bedridden. With a walker she can go 10 steps before needing to sit. She is unable to get up from a seated position without assistance. Standing for any period of time is out of the question.
On discharge day, a social worker stopped by her room and handed me a flyer for a medical rehab clinic. She said I was to call the clinic when I got home to arrange for in patient rehab. That’s what I did and was told that wasn’t how it works, that a doctor order and social work recommendation is required to admit her. She received neither of these in writing.
She was seen by 5 different docs in the hospital as they were trying to diagnose her issue. The hospitalist was obviously a locum tenans doc as he has no evidence of existence associated with the hospital and therefore no contact info. The social worker’s name isn’t on the discharge papers (kicking myself for not writing it down). I was told the hospital usually calls within a day or two of discharge to check in but of course that hasn’t happened either.
My ignorance caused this terrible situation we find ourselves in. Does anyone with knowledge or past experience have any advice on how to obtain a social work rec and doc order requirement after a hospital discharge?
Prior to her hospital stay, she was completely independent, only needing a cane for balance. Since discharge, she has been mostly bedridden. With a walker she can go 10 steps before needing to sit. She is unable to get up from a seated position without assistance. Standing for any period of time is out of the question.
On discharge day, a social worker stopped by her room and handed me a flyer for a medical rehab clinic. She said I was to call the clinic when I got home to arrange for in patient rehab. That’s what I did and was told that wasn’t how it works, that a doctor order and social work recommendation is required to admit her. She received neither of these in writing.
She was seen by 5 different docs in the hospital as they were trying to diagnose her issue. The hospitalist was obviously a locum tenans doc as he has no evidence of existence associated with the hospital and therefore no contact info. The social worker’s name isn’t on the discharge papers (kicking myself for not writing it down). I was told the hospital usually calls within a day or two of discharge to check in but of course that hasn’t happened either.
My ignorance caused this terrible situation we find ourselves in. Does anyone with knowledge or past experience have any advice on how to obtain a social work rec and doc order requirement after a hospital discharge?