What type of patients does the post-acute care category of Quality Measures (QMs) mainly focus on?

The post-acute care category of Quality Measures (QMs) primarily focuses on individuals who require a period of rehabilitation or recovery following a hospital stay or acute illness. These patients typically include those receiving skilled nursing services or those who are undergoing rehabilitation after surgery, injury, or medical treatment.

Temporary residents often fall into this category since they are patients who need transitional care before returning home or moving to a less intensive level of care. The emphasis on temporary residents allows the healthcare system to monitor the quality of care provided during this critical recovery phase, ensuring that the services delivered are effective and have a meaningful impact on patient outcomes.

In contrast, chronic illness patients typically require ongoing, long-term management of their conditions rather than acute, post-hospitalization care. Long-term care residents are more likely to be individuals with significant, enduring health issues who may not be in a post-acute recovery phase, and terminally ill patients usually fall under hospice or palliative care, aiming at comfort rather than recovery. Thus, temporary residents represent the core focus of post-acute care quality measures.