Contact Information

Inpatient Admission Criteria

Information Required for Admission

Contact Information

Providers or patients can contact the MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute of Ohio Admissions Office by calling (216) 778-4167.

Information/documentation can be faxed to the MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute of Ohio Admissions Office at (216) 778-1120.

Inpatient Admission Criteria

While we recognize that each patient is unique and must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, the following are general criteria that we assess regarding appropriateness of patients for comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation.

1. Medical necessity for inpatient rehabilitation hospitalization with relatively intensive therapy program (i.e., significant functional deficit that cannot be appropriately managed at a lower level of intensity).
2. Patient is medically stable, and anticipated to be able to tolerate at least 3 hours of therapy per day.
3. Patient’s cognitive, psychological and behavioral status permits program participation (e.g., able to concentrate, learn and retain).
4. Patient needs and will benefit from multiple therapy disciplines (including physical therapy, occupational therapy, rehabilitation nursing and, as appropriate, speech therapy), within a reasonable time frame (usually 10 days to several weeks).
5. Realistic discharge plan/destination (e.g., supportive family members).
6. Acute care workup completed (i.e., no pending diagnostic tests, therapeutic procedures, etc.).

Examples of situations when we usually delay or do not admit:

1. Age under 13.
2. Ventilator-dependent (except spinal cord patients with stable respiratory status).
3. Suctioning frequency greater than every 2 hours.
4. Weight-bearing restrictions on 3 or more limbs.
5. Chest tubes (can accept patients with Heimlich device).
6. Active medical problems that would result in frequent absence from the rehab unit for testing or treatment, or are anticipated to interfere with tolerance of rehabilitation (examples: plasmapheresis, chemotherapy). We do accept patients on dialysis or receiving radiation therapy.
7. Labile blood pressure or uncontrolled hypertension.
8. Patients unable to sit, or only able to sit for very limited periods (e.g., sacral or ischial pressure ulcers, some plastic surgery procedures).
9. Patient in coma or other non-responsive status.
10. Unexplained or untreated fever (greater than 99°F/38°C) k) INR greater than 4.0

Information Required for Admission 

To better enable us to evaluate your patient for potential admission for comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation (and to meet insurance authorization requirements), we request that you forward the following information:

• Admission history and physical exam.
• Consultation reports.
• Medical progress notes for the previous week.
• Rehabilitation therapy notes (Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy) for previous week.
• Pertinent imaging results (Xray, CT, MRI, etc.).
• Pertinent laboratory data, especially recent labs.
• Current vital signs (if not already included on progress notes).
• Any other pertinent work-up results (e.g., operative notes, stroke work-up, etc.).
• Current medications with dosage, route, frequency.
• Current diet with any restrictions (e.g., fluid restriction, thickened liquids, etc.).
• Other pertinent care-related information (e.g., weight-bearing status, O2 needs, isolation for VRE or CDiff, dialysis, specific precautions, future testing/treatment needs).
• Any issues affecting intensity of nursing care (e.g., constant supervision for agitation, frequent diarrhea, suctioning frequency, wound care).
• Social/Family support and insurance information.

Please also include a contact person and phone number/beeper number in case we need clarification or additional information, and to facilitate our providing prompt feedback regarding your patient. Our goal is to render a decision regarding appropriateness of admission to the MetroHealth within one business day of receiving all relevant information. If we can not accept your patient for admission, we will explain why, and make suggestions regarding alternative treatment options/destinations.

• Please fax the requested information/documentation to (216) 778-1120.
• Feel free to call MetroHealth Rehabilitation Admissions Office at (216) 778-4167 with any questions or feedback.