Frequently Asked Questions

After a sudden illness or serious accident, most patients in a traditional hospital will be able to go home or to a lower level of care within a few days. Patients with complex conditions, however, may need additional time to recover in an acute care setting. That’s where we come in. Our physician-led care teams provide critically ill patients with the specialized care they need, for the time they need it – empowering them to take the next step in their recovery journey.

We believe early rehabilitation is essential for recovering strength and function. Patients may receive rehabilitation from physical and occupational therapists as well as speech and language pathologists. As part of our Move Early program, our rehabilitation specialists begin working with patients, even those on mechanical ventilation, as soon as is safe. Duration and frequency of daily therapy sessions will depend upon your tolerance level. There is no minimum level of therapy required to participate.

We want the transition to be as smooth as possible for you and your family. That’s why one of our clinical liaisons will meet with your care coordinator to review your medical history and current health condition. Once it’s determined that a Cornerstone Specialty Hospital is right for you, an admission date and time will be selected by all parties involved.  

The goal of a traditional hospital is to diagnose and stabilize your condition, and start your recovery as quickly as possible after pressing health issues – emergencies brought on by illness or an injury – for usually a few days or a week. However, if you have complex conditions, you may need the specialized care provided by a long-term acute care hospital in order to recover as fully as possible. 

Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals may have been suggested because your recovery requires: 

• More recovery time in a hospital setting
• Specialized acute care
• Daily monitoring by physicians
• Team-based care

A typical stay in a traditional hospital is four to five days. Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals have unique certifications that allow patients to continue receiving intensive care for an extended period of time. Lengths of stay may vary depending on your care plan needs, but the average stay is 25 days.

Unlike skilled nursing or inpatient rehabilitation facilities, Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals are licensed as acute care specialty hospitals. While care at skilled nursing facilities is primarily led by nurses, the treatment at Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals is led by physicians who see their patients daily. At Cornerstone, patients have access to hospital services, including radiology, laboratory, and pharmacy. 

Our therapy is also distinct from that offered at an inpatient rehabilitation facility. Our physical, occupational, and speech therapists begin working with patients while they are still receiving acute care. There is no minimum therapy participation required, and each patient’s care plan is unique depending on abilities and goals, without specific duration requirements. 

A Cornerstone Specialty Hospital is a valuable care setting if you: 

• Are dependent upon a ventilator or other  technology for regular breathing
• Have medically complex conditions such as pulmonary disease, neurological deficits, cardiac disease, renal (kidney) failure requiring dialysis, complex wounds, infectious diseases or complications following surgery
• Have simultaneous chronic conditions or multisystem organ failure with significant loss of independence
• Need continued acute care after a hospital stay

Part of the admission process includes verification of insurance. We encourage you and your family to be as familiar with coverage and benefits as possible; however, if there are any questions, we can refer you to someone in our admissions office who may be able to assist further. We accept most forms of insurance. 

We encourage all physicians to follow their patients while at our hospital. If your current physician does not have attending privileges, we can recommend a Cornerstone physician for you and, with your and the physician’s permission, provide your previous physician with updates on your progress. Rest assured that you’re in good hands. We offer 24-hour physician or physician extender coverage, and specialists in internal medicine, critical care, and pulmonology are available as needed. 

When you are ready to leave our hospital, we will help you determine the best path for your recovery. Many of our patients are able to discharge to home. Otherwise, options for continued care include: 

• Acute inpatient rehabilitation settings
• Skilled nursing facilities or subacute units
• Assisted living facilities
• Home health
• Outpatient services