A Trip to the Hospital...Then What?

Going to the hospital is relatively common in the later years of life. If you fall and break a hip, you may have surgery and be admitted for a few days. What happens next? Can you recuperate at home, or do you need skilled rehab? Will you need home health or a home care agency to help you in your home? Just because a physician prescribes a medication or orders follow-up care does not mean that your insurance will automatically pay for it.

There are many questions that arise about the next step for you after your hospital stay. Fortunately, you don't have to anticipate challenges or find the solutions yourself. Social workers and care managers in the hospital will guide you along the way.

In this episode, Andy Cruzan of the Penn State Hershey Medical Center explains how social workers plan the next steps for patients who will be discharged from the hospital. They navigate challenges relating to the patient's health status, less-than-ideal support network, and a larger health care system under strain. Social workers are the bridge from your acute care to your full recovery.

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