Tulsa Senior AdvisorWhat should we do first when a Tulsa hospital plans a discharge?
Ask the case manager three things in writing: whether your parent is formally admitted or under observation, what level of care the team recommends after discharge, and which facilities or agencies have accepted the referral.
Formal admission for at least three days is what opens Medicare's skilled nursing benefit. Observation days do not count.
How do we choose a rehab facility quickly?
Shortlist two or three certified nursing homes near home, then compare their CMS staffing, latest inspection and short-stay quality figures before you answer the hospital; our nursing home pages show each one beside the Tulsa-area median.
You have the right to choose among facilities that accept the patient. Ask each about therapy on weekends and the plan if Medicare coverage stops early.
What if rehab is not needed but living alone is unsafe?
Options range from Medicare home health visits plus private help at home, to a short respite stay in assisted living, to a permanent move; the safest choice depends on whether nights are covered.
Some assisted living centers accept short respite stays, which gives time to decide. Ask before you count on it.
Which hospitals in the Tulsa area appear in CMS's hospital list?
CMS's Hospital General Information file lists these hospitals with emergency departments in the six counties: Hillcrest Medical Center (Tulsa), Hillcrest Hospital Claremore (Claremore), Muscogee (Creek) Nation Medical Center (Okmulgee), Oklahoma State University Medical Center (Tulsa), Saint Francis Hospital (Tulsa), Ascension St. John Medical Center (Tulsa), Wagoner Community Hospital (Wagoner), Claremore Indian Hospital (Claremore), Hillcrest Hospital Henryetta (Henryetta), Hillcrest Hospital South (Tulsa), Saint Francis Hospital South (Tulsa), St. John Owasso (Owasso), Bailey Medical Center (Owasso), Ascension St. John Broken Arrow (Broken Arrow), Carrus Lakeside Hospital (Bristow), Pawhuska Hospital (Pawhuska), Ascension St. John Sapulpa (Sapulpa), Rural Wellness Fairfax Hospital (Fairfax), Drumright Regional Hospital (Drumright).
We use this list only to show distances from each facility in our directory.
What if the hospital wants to discharge before we are ready?
Medicare patients receive a notice of their discharge rights and can request a fast appeal through the quality improvement organization listed on it; the hospital cannot charge for the extra days while the appeal is reviewed.
Use the time to visit the facilities on the list or arrange help at home.
At a glance
| Discharge planning includes | It does not include | |
|---|---|---|
| Choice | Your choice among accepting providers | Being assigned without options |
| Medicare | SNF coverage after 3 inpatient days | Coverage for observation-only stays |
| Timeline | Fast, often 24-48 hours | Weeks to decide |
Sources include the Oklahoma Administrative Code (chapters 310:663, 310:680, 310:673, 310:675 and 310:605), OSDH, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Oklahoma Human Services, the Oklahoma Attorney General, CareScout, CMS and the VA, as cited above; see our editorial standards.
