Originally published on June 21, 2020
When a loved one is suddenly in need of post-acute care after a hospitalization, families are often faced with an overwhelming number of decisions in a very short amount of time. One of the most critical is choosing a nursing home or other post-acute provider. Unfortunately, this decision is rarely made with access to the right information, clear guidance, or even a full list of available options.
Usually, patients and their families are handed a short list of providers with little to no context. There’s no insight into quality ratings, availability, or whether the facility is a good match for the patient’s specific needs. Pressed for time, many simply choose the closest facility or the first one that responds. The risks are high—misaligned care, preventable complications, and even readmission to the hospital.
These dangers are why patient choice in post-acute care should not just be viewed only as a regulatory requirement but as a crucial part of delivering safe, high-quality patient care. And there’s support for hospitals and health systems to rethink how they support it.
The problem with how most patient choice works today
While regulations require hospitals to respect patient choice, the status quo often falls short. Most hospitals rely on outdated or overly narrow processes to help patients select a post-acute provider. Typically, they present a short list of facilities—often limited to those with existing affiliations—and ask patients to select three to five. But these lists lack transparency:
- Patients don’t see all their options. Many high-quality providers are never shown simply because they aren’t part of a preferred network.
- No real-time availability. Patients often choose providers that don’t have open beds or can’t accommodate them.
- Missing quality data. Without clear information on outcomes, infection rates, or patient satisfaction, families are left guessing.
- The process is rushed. Choosing a nursing home or home health agency often happens under pressure, with little time to reflect or compare.
It’s no surprise that few patients end up with the best available option. Meanwhile, individuals know things can be better—54% of US adults believe their health would improve if providers helped them navigate the healthcare system, emphasizing the need for clear, data-driven guidance during transitions.
How Aidin puts patient choice at the center
At Aidin, we’ve built our care management platform to make patient choice a real, informed, and supported part of post-acute care planning. We help hospitals and care teams guide patients through a better process—one that’s transparent, data-driven, and collaborative.
A contextual & searchable provider directory for care managers
Aidin’s provider directory offers more than just a static list. Care managers can explore a diverse network of post-acute providers, including skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, and rehabilitation centers. Not only does this platform allow users to narrow options by distance and services, but it also boasts a badge system that ranks partners by a variety of quality factors—making choosing a nursing home or post-acute care provider easier and more personalized.
Real-time availability
Patients and the care management teams supporting them shouldn’t have to guess whether a provider can take them. Aidin allows skilled nursing facilities and other post-acute providers to respond to referrals from health systems based on their actual availability across its network so patients and families can focus only on providers that actually can provide the care upon the expected care date.
Quality metrics & ratings
Not every post-acute care provider has the same history of delivering quality care. Some indicators include:
- Medicare Star Ratings
- Nurse-to-patient ratios
- Patient satisfaction metrics
- Specialized services offered
Having visibility into these aspects helps care managers determine more informed choices when helping patients discharge to the right nursing home or other care provider.
Personalized matches based on needs
Aidin captures patient details—such as insurance coverage, medical considerations, specialty care, proximity to family, or language needs—and uses them to generate personalized matches. No more one-size-fits-all lists. Patients and their families receive options that reflect their needs, eliminating the need for back-and-forths to confirm available beds or care after selecting a post-acute provider.
Secure communication tools
Aidin supports secure messaging between care management teams and post-acute care providers to ensure the patient’s needs are met. Questions, concerns, and feedback can be shared in one place, reducing confusion and ensuring care teams stays informed through the referral process.
Better Tools Support Better Outcomes
When patients have access to more information and support from care management teams, they consistently make better decisions.
Hospitals that prioritize patient choice benefit, too, by experiencing:
- Faster, more efficient discharges
- Lower readmission rates
- Increased patient satisfaction
- Fewer delays caused by capacity or insurance issues
Aidin users have seen measurable improvements. One former director of care management noted, “We had a referral system that was no longer keeping up with the goals we had for our patients… [Aidin] is bringing a new level of transparency to our care transition process.”
Ready to learn about a better way to manage referrals? Download our eBook.
Tips for supporting patient choice in post-acute care
Hospitals and care managers can take meaningful steps to promote patient choice and improve outcomes by:
- Starting the conversation early. Don’t wait until the last day of hospitalization to begin discussing post-acute needs.
- Explaining key metrics. Help patients understand how quality indicators relate to their recovery.
- Supporting research and discussion. Encourage families to explore options and share their priorities.
Whether it’s choosing a nursing home for recovery or selecting a home health provider, the goal should always be to match the patient with the highest-quality care that aligns with their needs.
Patient choice is the foundation of safer care
For patients transitioning out of the hospital, the decision about where to receive post-acute care can have a long-term impact. Yet the process of choosing a nursing home or post-acute provider often happens in a hurry, with limited visibility.
Hospitals can change that – improving the patient experience as well as the process for care management teams at hospitals and the post-acute providers looking to offer support and care after the patient is discharged from the hospital. By embracing technology that supports patient choice, including real-time availability, transparent quality data, and personalized recommendations, patients and families can feel more confident—not rushed—when making vital care decisions.
Aidin makes this possible. We give hospitals and health systems the tools to support better decision-making, improve outcomes, and raise standards of care across the board.
Are you with a health system that is ready for a better way to manage the referral process? Schedule a walkthrough with our team.