Even our Sister doesn't love us...

Eee gads...If it isn't enough having advocacy groups, the attorney general, public opinion and regulators who feel it their personal mission and obligation to point our your inadequacies and subpar performance. Now comes the same attack from our "sisters" the hospital associations.

It seems, that the hospitals are a little put out by the proposed medicare rules (labeled the 75% rule) that will limit what/who/when can recieve inpatient rehab care in a hospital setting. So how are they fighting? They are using our industry as the scape goat...Go figure, it appears to work well as a marketing opportunity.

However, I find this a golden opportunity for us to distance ourselves from the hospital settings. We are different, and if investigated via a customer service rating; we "spank" their outcomes. In mere dollar and cents; skilled nursing services come in cheaper, more effective and surprisingly I would venture with better customer service ratings on the experience.

As an industry, this should be the talking point. lets look at the dollar and cent difference between in patient rehab and us; and then compare amenities. It is the time to speak of what we do and do well...Customer service with good healing/wellness outcomes.

Perhaps public awareness that we even offer these services will happen because of the "ads" that are being run by the hospital associations.

Hmmm..I wonder if they thought of that possibility. Do they realize that much of the public does not know of our short term rehab abilities? For if they did; they would be amazed and impressed but what we do, with what we have; and how pleased our customers are when they leave.

I say bring it on; this is one attack that I welcome. We are not only good at rehab; but if you look at our outcomes vs. our cost we produce a phenomenal product.

In fact I have a suggested equalizer; if the inpatient rehabs want to play fair; they will accept a Medicare PPS program for their services; complete with the federally mandated survey process based on the medicare regulations/oversight given to skilled nursing facilites. Once this system came into play; perhaps then the outcomes could be measured via a scientific based research study. This data could be the catalyst to stop the "public opinion and word association model" they are using in their ads to attack "nursing homes".

Either way; It is yet another example of how we as an industry must continue to hold true to the principles of quality outcomes; and ethics as we proceed forward to care for the next generation.