Post-acute care refers to the medical care and rehabilitation services that patients receive after hospitalization for surgery, injury, or illness. It acts as a bridge between the hospital and the next steps to recovery, helping patients regain their strength and return home. Post-acute care facilities provide short-term rehabilitation services, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and respiratory therapy, to help patients meet their rehabilitation goals before discharge. Post-acute care plays a critical role in healthcare by providing services that help patients get back to good health and maximize their functional abilities and confidence in caring for themselves as independently as possible.
Post-acute care is different from long-term care, which is mostly associated with older adults and provides ongoing care for patients with chronic conditions or disabilities. Intermediate care and post-acute care are both forms of transitional care for patients returning to the community after hospitalization for acute conditions. Post-acute care facilities can either be freestanding or part of a larger unit, and many acute hospitals have created partnerships with post-acute care facilities to track patients after they transition to post-acute care.
