Mom's been in rehab for a week following her hospitalization for pneumonia and a UTI. The insurance company that covers her medicare has insisted on a particular rehab facility. She's been there for a week now, hasn't seen a doctor, and has been vomiting nightly. Shouldn't a doctor be seeing her? She's already been to the hospital once from this facility (for the UTI) and the insurance company pushed her back into it. I feel caught between a rock and a hard place and Mom needs care! What should I do?
It's not really a matter of "seeing a doctor". I don't think my mom saw an MD while in subacute rehab. But if she needs medical care, she should be transported to an acute facility, like an ER.
And make sure they admit her. Not "observation".
I'm wondering also about the vomiting - is it only at night? Or is it after every meal? Has this happened to her before?
You do have a right to contact an ombudsperson if the nursing home isn't compliant and/or able to handle getting care for the vomiting.
Start documenting contact and discussions with the nursing home; you might have to follow up on this if something isn't done ASAP.
Good luck.
Totally agree with GA about letting the insurance company know about the care ( or lack thereof) she is receiving.
When dealing with the rehab, you need to make sure that you're dealing with someone with authority. Often, important information does not get passed on to the next shift and does not get bumped up to the person in charge of your mom's care.
I didn't know that observation isn't consider hospitalization until after my mom had another UTI and was vomitng and dehydrated and then she had a bad fall at her facility - trip to ER and overnight for observation then sent back to facility without my being given any opportunity to speak to discharge planner
Without 3-day hospital stay, Medicare won't cover rehab