A SNFist or post-hospitalist is a physician working in a skilled nursing center or post-acute care facility. These healthcare providers specialize in geriatric care. The relatively new specialization is increasing as organizations realize that care systems need improvement.
Innovative facilities are starting to invest in SNFist programs to boost the quality of care for patients and support for residents. With evidence that these programs significantly reduce rehospitalizations and enhance communication, skilled nursing facilities should consider adopting the model to slash readmission costs and build a reputation for frictionless patient-centric care.
SNFists come from one of the latest specialties stemming from the Primary Care Physician (PCP) model. The U.S. only has a few thousand SNFists and an even smaller number of SNFist programs. This growth potential is an opportunity for your skilled nursing center to differentiate your program while competitors are still considering the model.
Traditional systems offer general dissatisfaction, falling short of an ideal care model. Too much admin and red tape and too few resources lead to average/poor patient and resident care and support. The SNFist’s role is to address these shortcomings.
SNFists benefit from not enduring the stringent regulations associated with medical committees. No decision trees from corporate medicine. Instead, these physicians have the freedom to directly impact residents’ and patients’ quality of care and life within the nursing center’s processes and protocols — a unique setup.
SNFists require specific skills and knowledge of nursing homes. Nursing home patients and residents present a range of physical health and behavioral needs that an interdisciplinary care team must manage. Highly trained physicians, like the internal medicine physicians at First Docs, hold the specialization and education required to support geriatric and other skilled nursing center patients and residents. These physicians combine their knowledge of state and federal regulations and training in geriatrics to deliver quality care.
SNFists may be associated with individuals in nursing home care but can include a broader population, like individuals in assisted living care.
A SNFist goes beyond the realm of a clinician providing medical care — they act as leaders in deciding on testing and treatment protocols, making decisions with available resources. Key responsibilities include:
According to a published study, SNFists provide higher-quality care to residents and patients. Due to these highly trained physicians’ robust understanding of the nuances of post-acute care and a specific skilled nursing center, they can build close relationships with resident patients and caretakers, delivering more informed and personalized illness management.
SNFists prioritize patient-centered care, helping residents by actively participating in their recovery and stabilization. Without a SNFist program, patients and residents see their Primary Care Physician monthly and, if stable, every 60 days. These intermittent visits can lead to unnecessary hospitalizations. SNFists are on-site and can quickly address illnesses and unforeseen issues before emergency care is required, resulting in more positive patient outcomes.
SNFists fill a unique role in assisting with transitional care and differ from hospitalists. A hospitalist works within an acute hospital setting and can have overlapping duties with SNFists. Hospitalists require generalized approaches to medicine, while SNFists specialize in geriatric and rehabilitative medicine. SNFists’ skill sets also focus on post-acute care facilities and unique challenges to residents and patient care in nursing centers.
There is a connection between SNFist and other physician roles. Acute hospitals will work with SNFists to handle rehabilitative care for older individuals. Likewise, hospitalists can overlap in the SNF landscape, delivering general care to patients and residents. SNFists do not replace traditional physician and clinician roles. Instead, these providers play a collaborative role in offering quality care and support.
SNFists deliver exceptional value to patients, residents, and facility staff. These physicians provide:
First Docs provides a SNFist for your center who takes a quality-over-quantity approach. Our physicians go to fewer facilities than typical SNFists to provide more focused care. With a dedicated doctor on site with specific working hours, they maintain a strong clinical focus and increase physician presence for your residents.
First Docs physicians improve communication at your facility with their consistent schedules, ensuring all parties are informed about care plans. With greater collaboration, the physicians create a cohesive care environment that drives positive care outcomes. With our patient-centric, collaborative, and interdisciplinary approach, our physicians offer seamless transition care.
Contact us online to learn more.