The Role of Skilled Nursing Care in Post-Surgery Recovery
Recovering after surgery often requires more than rest at home. Many patients benefit from the structured support of short term skilled nursing care, which offers a safe environment, personalized therapy, and medical oversight to reduce complications. At Santé, our skilled nursing facilities in Arizona provide the care and rehabilitation services patients need to regain strength, mobility, and confidence.
What Is Skilled Nursing Care After Surgery?
Skilled nursing care bridges the gap between hospital discharge and returning home. Unlike basic nursing or custodial care, a short term skilled nursing facility provides:
- 24/7 access to licensed nurses and medical staff
- Physician-led care plans tailored to recovery needs
- Advanced rehabilitation therapies
- Monitoring for potential complications
For patients recovering from orthopedic, cardiac, or neurological surgery, this level of support ensures safer healing and faster progress toward independence.
Why Post-Surgery Patients Need Skilled Nursing
After surgery, the risk of complications can remain high during the first weeks. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), nearly 1 in 5 patients experience at least one complication after surgery if not properly managed in the post-acute phase.
Skilled nursing care helps by:
- Preventing infections through wound care and monitoring
- Managing pain safely with medication and therapy
- Supporting mobility to avoid blood clots or bed sores
- Coordinating care with physicians and therapists
This comprehensive approach allows patients to focus on healing while reducing the chance of re-hospitalization.
The Role of Therapy in Skilled Nursing Recovery
At Santé’s post-surgical programs, therapy begins early and is customized to each patient. Therapies may include:
- Physical Therapy: Strengthens muscles, improves mobility, and supports balance after orthopedic or spine surgery.
- Occupational Therapy: Helps patients relearn daily tasks like bathing, dressing, or cooking after complex surgeries.
- Speech Therapy: Supports patients after neurological surgeries or strokes that affect speech or swallowing.
Therapy in a post-surgical skilled nursing setting is delivered in modern rehab gyms and reinforced through consistent practice, ensuring measurable progress.
Specialized Skilled Nursing for Complex Conditions
Not all post-surgery recoveries are the same. Some patients need focused programs, which Santé provides at its Arizona facilities:
- Cardiac Skilled Nursing: For patients recovering from bypass surgery, valve repair, or heart failure management. The American Heart Association emphasizes the importance of structured post-cardiac rehabilitation to reduce hospital readmissions .
- Neurological Skilled Nursing: Tailored for patients recovering from strokes, brain injuries, or neurosurgeries, emphasizing mobility, cognition, and speech recovery.
- Post-Injury Skilled Nursing: For patients healing after traumatic injuries or orthopedic surgeries, including joint replacements or fractures.
By offering specialized care, Santé ensures that recovery addresses both medical and lifestyle needs.
How Skilled Nursing Prevents Complications
Preventing setbacks is just as important as making progress. Skilled nursing teams use evidence-based practices to reduce risks:
- Regular Monitoring: Vital signs, incision sites, and overall progress are closely tracked.
- Medication Management: Ensures patients take medications correctly and on schedule.
- Nutritional Support: Balanced meals promote healing and strengthen immunity.
- Patient & Family Education: Equips loved ones with the knowledge to support recovery after discharge.
Patients who choose short term skilled nursing often transition home with greater confidence and stability.
What to Expect at Santé’s Skilled Nursing Facilities
Santé offers a medical-resort style recovery environment designed for comfort as well as healing. Patients benefit from:
- Private suites with modern amenities
- Therapy delivered in state-of-the-art gyms
- Restaurant-style dining with nutritious meals
- Compassionate, patient-centered care teams
Whether recovering from hip surgery, heart surgery, or a neurological procedure, Santé’s skilled nursing services focus on reducing complications and improving quality of life.
Short-Term Skilled Nursing Rehab in Arizona
Recovery doesn’t end when you leave the hospital. A stay in a short term skilled nursing facility like Santé ensures you receive the clinical attention and therapy you need before returning home. By investing in post-surgery skilled nursing care, patients reduce the likelihood of setbacks and improve their chances of long-term success.
Ready to Begin Your Recovery Journey?
At Santé, we understand how important a smooth recovery is after surgery. Our physician-led, compassionate care helps patients heal safely and confidently. If you or a loved one are preparing for surgery or planning recovery, contact our team today to learn more about Santé’s short term skilled nursing services across our Arizona locations.
Contact us today to start your recovery journey.
Sources
[1] https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cardiac-rehab/what-is-cardiac-rehabilitation?utm_source=chatgpt.com
[2] https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/cardiac-rehabilitation-treatment.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com
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.
