Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do you define “long term acute care” (LTAC)?
   Long Term Acute Care is defined as hospital care that is provided to patients that meet acute care criteria. Their hospitalization generally requires greater than 25 days.
   
   
2. What is the referral process?
   Case Management handles all referrals at Our Lady of Peace Hospital. OLOP Case Managers then work with patients, families, physicians and other case managers to determine if the patient meets criteria to be admitted to OLOP.
   
   
3. When should a referral be made to OLOP?
   A patient referral should be made as soon as the physician or case manager knows that the patient will need a lengthy hospitalization.
   
   
4. Who can admit patients to OLOP?
   Any physician who has privileges at Our Lady of Peace Hospital can admit a patient. OLOP also has Hospitalists that can assist with patients who do not have a local physician.
   
   
5. How often do physicians visit their patients?
   A patient MUST have a daily visit and written progress note by their physician.
   
   
6. Will my insurance, Medicare, Commercial Insurance, pay for OLOP?
   OLOP accepts all types of payment sources. OLOP utilizes the acute Medicare days for payment. Case Management will work with each insurance company to obtain approval prior to admission.
   
   
7. What is the average length of stay?
   The average length of stay is 25 days or more.
   
   
8. What is the difference between Skilled/Sub acute care and LTAC?
   Sub acute/Skilled care is a level of care that is for patients with rehabilitation and/or other medical needs that require monitoring by licensed professionals. Long term acute care is for the medically complex patient, meeting acute care criteria and needing daily physician intervention.
   
   
9. What types of patients does OLOP admit?
   Our Lady of Peace Hospital admits medically complex patients. Examples of conditions and diagnoses that are treated are patients with respiratory failure, requiring ventilator management, post surgical patients, prolonged IV antibiotics, wounds, and patients with renal disease requiring dialysis.
   
   
10. Can my physician take care of me at OLOP?
    Our Lady of Peace Hospital has its own medical staff. If the patient’s physician has privileges at OLOP, then that physician can care for the patient while they are at OLOP.
    
    
11. How can OLOP be less expensive than a short term acute care hospital?
    The workup for most patients is done prior to admission to OLOP. The expenses are minimized, as most testing is done prior to admission and the treatment can continue at OLOP.
    
    
12. If the patient needs a specialist, which ones are on staff at OLOP?
    Our Lady of Peace Hospital has specialists in all areas. Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Dermatology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Infectious Disease, Nephrology, Neurology, Physical Medicine, Psychiatry, Pulmonary Medicine, Orthopedics, Thoracic Surgery, General Surgery, and Urology.
    
    
13. Are Care Management services available?
    Our Lady of Peace Hospital has 2 Case Managers on staff. They are available for assistance prior to admission and ongoing to assist with needs up until discharge from OLOP.
    
    
14. Where do patients go after discharge from OLOP?
    After discharge most patients at OLOP go home. Some patients also are transferred to Rehab programs or subacute/skilled care facilities.

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