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Finally your patient is at the skilled unit of nursing home. The admission paper work into a skilled nursing home for rehabilitation can take near up to an hour to complete. The responsible party whether it is you the patient, your spouse an adult child, someone will have to sign all of the paper work.

The day that the resident is received at the nursing home skilled rehabilitation unit the resident or the responsible party will be offered a list of physicians to select one that will follow them during their stay. When a physician is selected the nurse will contact him/her to receive the resident. The nurse will receive report from the hospital nurse to verify the discharge orders from the hospital physician and the condition of the resident.

The first day (all time before midnight) at the nursing home is called the day of rest (day 1 of skilled care). No therapies or therapy evaluations will be offered on this day so that the resident can become adjusted to routines and staff.

The Admissions Coordinator will meet with the resident or the resident's representative (responsible party or Power of Attorney) to do the Admissions Agreement and collect financial and health related information and to disseminate information on their nursing home's policy's and procedures. Nursing homes must meet federal, state and local regulations therefore they will have several acknowledgement forms that require signatures of receipt. These forms vary from state to state and nursing home to nursing home.

Most all nursing homes have an Admission Agreement and it must be signed within 24 hours of admission. Most of the agreements are comprehensive and are written to accept residents with varying levels of care and payer sources. The agreement explains what the nursing homes responsibilities and limitations are and what the resident/responsible party's responsibly and limitations are.

Most common and routine sections of the agreement for a skilled rehabilitation stay are:

• Consent to Treatment
• Assignment Of Benefits
• Agreement with the Pharmacy
• Assignment to Use Medicare Part B
• Receipt of Health Information Portability and Accountability Act
• Health Information Practices and Release of Information Consent
• Medicare Determination Letter
• Consent for a Resident Trust Account
• Bed Hold Policy
• Ancillary Services Price List

During the admission process the Admission Coordinator will briefly describe to you each section of the agreement and what you are putting your signature to. To read the whole agreement to you would take 2 to 3 hours. Always request a copy of the agreement (you should not be charged for a copy).

Nursing homes are required to provide you with information and some of this information vary from state to state and nursing home to nursing home. This is how nursing homes prove to regulatory agencies that they have provided you with information. Here is an example list of those types of acknowledgement forms:

• Acknowledgement or Receipt of Nursing Home Policies and Procedures
• Acknowledgement or Receipt of Resident Rights
• Acknowledgement or Receipt of Falls Management Program
• Acknowledgement or Receipt of Skin Management Program
• Acknowledgement or Receipt of Hydration Management Program
• Acknowledgement or Receipt of Nutrition Management Program
• Acknowledgement or Receipt of Self-Administration of Medication
• Acknowledgement or Receipt of Chemical/Physical Restraints

You will feel that you are signing your life away but you are not. All of these forms are standard for admission into most all nursing home rehabilitation units. Be sure to read them as soon as you can. If you have any questions ask them to explain. If they can't or won't explain contact the faculty ombudsman for assistance.