Preventing Complications With Skilled Nursing Care During Post-Surgical Recovery
Undergoing surgery can significantly weaken your body and require post-op care that medical professionals must provide. Skilled nursing care allows patients to receive that care to prevent post-surgical complications and have the best recovery possible. We will examine what skilled nursing care entails and how the Santé team can help.
What is Skilled Nursing Care?
Skilled nursing care facilities provide patients with the medical treatment they need following surgery. Typically, a stay at these facilities follows a hospital stay for patients who no longer need the care hospitals provide but are not well enough to return home.[1]
Registered nurses, physical and occupational therapists, and other medical professionals are present to provide patients with the treatments they need for recovery. Skilled nursing facilities also assist with activities of daily living, such as showering, dressing, and eating.
Benefits of Skilled Nursing Care During Post-Surgical Recovery
Wound Management
Wound management is among the greatest benefits of skilled nursing care during post-surgical recovery. Following surgery, wounds are vulnerable to infections, which can lead to life-threatening complications. The Santé team is trained to clean, monitor, and dress wounds properly to prevent the risk of infection and promote faster healing.
By having a nurse consistently monitor wounds, they can intervene quickly at the first hint of infection. This can prevent future hospital stays and other medical issues such as blood clots and pressure sores. Patients often need to be moved frequently to prevent those types of complications. This can be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to do alone. However, staying at these facilities can make managing this care easier.
Medication Management
During the post-op phase, many patients still need medication to manage their pain. Nurses can make sure that medication is dispensed properly to prevent overdose. They can also ensure that the right types of medication are given to treat specific issues.
Regular Monitoring
Another benefit skilled nursing care provides is regular monitoring of vital signs. This is vital during the post-op phase to ensure patients are on the right track during recovery. Any abnormal findings will be detected immediately so they can be addressed and the patient can be adequately treated.
Specialized Therapy
Following certain types of surgery, specialized therapy is needed so that patients can regain their strength and return home. Skilled nursing facilities provide occupational, speech, and physical therapy so that patients can regain their abilities and have a smoother transition home. Therapists get to know each patient to provide a customized care plan. They work with each patient to enhance skills impacted by surgery. They also teach patients new ways of doing things to accommodate for any post-op deficiencies.
Avoid Re-Injury
Skilled nursing care can help patients avoid reinjuring themselves. Often, patients return home unprepared and take on responsibilities that can lead to injury. At a skilled nursing facility, staff ensures patients don’t do tasks they can’t handle. Instead, they help them ease into them to avoid injury. Eventually, patients can regain their abilities or learn a new way of doing things.
Help to Train Family Members
If patients live at home with other family members, the staff can also provide care training to help with daily activities and wound care. This can ensure a smooth transition when patients return home and help to prevent other injuries.
Are You Looking for Skilled Nursing Care? Contact Santé Today!
Santé provides skilled nursing care at four convenient locations throughout Arizona: Mesa, Chandler, Surprise, and North Scottsdale. Here, patients receive stellar care to allow them to recover from their surgeries. From wound care to physical therapy, our staff is highly trained to provide the best care. We help patients recover from surgery at their own pace to avoid reinjuring themselves. Outpatient therapy is also available for patients once they return home.
To learn more about the care Santé provides, contact a staff member today.
Source:
[1] https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/skilled-nursing-facility.asp
Dan is Vice President, Marketing of the Alumus family of companies. A Seattle native, he earned his BA in Humanities and Political Science at Evergreen State College. He started his career as a newspaper columnist, eventually transitioning into marketing and tech writing for Microsoft and several other startups. He later launched a successful creative agency focused on branding, digital marketing, and content production in Los Angeles, where he worked for several nursing and behavioral health clients, eventually becoming the National Marketing Director for one of them.
He has taught Vipassana mindfulness meditation and MBSR and spends whatever free time he has with his son snowboarding, hiking, and camping in the mountains.
