Acute Care Overview for the Rehab Practitioner

Presented by Ashley Poole

12-Month Subscription

Unlimited access to:

  • Thousands of CE Courses
  • Patient Education
  • Home Exercise Program
  • And more
Video Runtime: 52 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 24 Minutes

Working in the acute care environment can be intimidating because rehab practitioners are treating and mobilizing patients with increasingly complex needs. While rehab practitioners have the necessary knowledge and skills, getting oriented in a hospital can feel overwhelming. This course will provide rehab practitioners with an overview of the acute care environment and increase awareness of what to expect when working in a hospital setting. Information in this course could be applicable to any health profession, including physical therapy and occupational therapy, that treats patients in the acute care setting.

Meet your instructor

Ashley Poole

Ashley Poole, PT, DPT, holds a full-time faculty appointment in the Doctor of Physical Therapy division at Duke University. She has more than 20 years of clinical practice experience and was awarded board certification as a cardiovascular and pulmonary clinical specialist by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties…

Read full bio

Chapters & learning objectives

Orientation to the Acute Care Setting

1. Orientation to the Acute Care Setting

This chapter will provide an overall orientation to the acute care setting. It is important for rehab practitioners to have a basic understanding of a hospital’s role in the healthcare system and the various facets of an acute care environment. This chapter will guide rehab practitioners in hospital policies/procedures, equipment, discharge planning, and the unique services that are delivered in acute care.

Roles and Responsibilities in Acute Care

2. Roles and Responsibilities in Acute Care

This chapter will introduce the various members of the acute care team and their roles in the hospital environment. Rehab practitioners will learn various strategies that will enhance interprofessional communication and help them achieve better patient outcomes.

Rehab in Acute Care

3. Rehab in Acute Care

This chapter will outline the workflow of a rehab practitioner working in acute care. There are many components to planning for and executing a successful patient encounter in the hospital. This chapter will guide rehab practitioners to a better understanding of rehab orders, triage systems, frequency determination, documentation, and billing in the acute care environment.