How Hospitals Can Help Patients Choose an Appropriate SNF

​An article in the July-August 2014 issue of the Annals of Long-Term Care presents strategies to help hospitals assist patients and families in choosing the most appropriate skilled nursing facility (SNF) for their needs. When tasked with selecting a SNF, the authors write, patients and family members often feel overwhelmed, rushed, and unsure of how to gauge SNF quality and the services available. In addition, regulations stress the importance of allowing patients freedom of choice. In fact, interpretive guidelines from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) state that hospitals must provide a list of facilities based on proximity to the patient's home but offer little guidance on how to counsel patients regarding SNF selection.