11. Nursing homes
Nursing homes offer a living situation for patients whose medical needs aren’t severe enough for hospitalization, but are too serious to manage at home. Some nursing homes offer services for heavier medical needs, such as speech and occupational therapy. Other nursing homes try to create a homier atmosphere, and might operate like an apartment complex with medical staff on hand.
According to the National Care Planning Council (NCPC), nursing homes enable patients with injuries, acute illnesses or postoperative care needs to recover in an environment outside the hospital. These facilities offer long-term medical care ranging from simple to complex levels of need in an environment built for residents to live in long term instead of just staying a few weeks or months.
Many people picture elderly patients in a nursing home. For the most part that’s true—over 80 percent of patients are over the age of 65. But there are also younger patients in nursing homes who may have serious long-term illnesses and need care beyond what their families can provide.
12. Orthopedic and other rehabilitation centers
Orthopedic medicine deals with muscles and bones. Physical therapists are typically the practitioner patients see for problems in these areas of the body. If you are experiencing chronic lower back pain, for example, you might see a physical therapist at an orthopedic center or clinic to get a diagnosis and a plan of treatment.
Orthopedic centers deal in everything from athletic injuries to therapy for patients with disabilities. They typically offer evaluation and diagnosis of the problem, as well as prevention, treatment and rehabilitation work involving bone, tendon, ligament, muscle and joint conditions.
These healthcare facilities have a variety of names depending on their specialization. They might simple be called outpatient physical therapy centers. Or you could find pediatric physical therapy clinics, sports medicine centers or geriatric physical therapy clinics.
There are also rehabilitation centers where patients can receive various therapies to help restore their abilities after an illness or injury. Physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy are all processes that help people gain or regain skills they need to move around, work or speak in daily life.
Practitioners at rehabilitation centers work with people to help them recover as much of their mobility and independence as possible. Outpatient rehab centers can relieve the strain on hospital rehabilitation floors.