Geriatrician

Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation: A Viable Career for a Geriatrician

When I was finishing my training, it never occurred to me that, as a geriatrician, I meet the requirements to practice in an acute rehabilitation setting, either in a host hospital or in a free-standing rehabilitation hospital.

What are the CMS requirements and why does a geriatrician meet those requirements?

1. One year of inpatient training (we all have in our intern year).
    
2. Two or more years experience or training in medically managing inpatients with rehabilitation needs. This includes any consulting or attending care you may have provided in an inpatient setting such as a skilled or acute inpatient rehabilitation setting. (I gained this experience both in my IM residency and geriatric fellowship).

The benefits of this job are the following: 20 hrs/week (acute rehab unit in a host hospital) or full-time (free‑standing rehab hospital) work dedicated to the unit or hospital, which allows flexibility of schedule.

This setting is also financially rewarding as you will be able to bill the rehabilitation provider for your administrative hours engaged (typically 10‑15 hours per week) and you can bill for your clinical services at the full inpatient physician fee schedule.

Lastly, but most importantly, you have the ability to help patients recover to their full potential as there is a higher frequency and intensity of therapy and nursing staff ratios.

If you’d like more detail about this type of practice, feel free to contact me: sally.brooks@kindred.com

Sally Brooks MD, AGSF

CMO, Kindred Rehabilitation Services

Kindred Healthcare

Milford, Ohio

www.kindredrehabjobs.com