Frequently Asked Questions

Your physician or care team may recommend a Solara Hospital when you or your loved one is medically stable enough to leave the ICU or short-term acute care hospital but still requires hospital-level care. While the immediate medical crisis has passed, continued healing may require ongoing treatment, daily physician oversight, specialized nursing, and advanced clinical services before it's safe to return home or move to the next stage of recovery.

Solara Hospitals help patients regain strength, recover from serious illness or injury, and prepare for the next stage of recovery. As long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs), we specialize in caring for medically complex patients who require an extended hospital stay. Many patients come to Solara for services such as ventilator weaning, complex wound care, intensive respiratory therapy, or continued treatment for serious medical conditions.

Why was I or a loved one referred:

• An extended hospital stay for continued recovery
• Ongoing hospital-level care and treatment
• Daily physician oversight and specialized nursing care
• Coordinated care from a multidisciplinary team
• Advanced services such as ventilator weaning, respiratory therapy, or complex wound care

Solara Hospitals are long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs), also called specialty hospitals. We provide hospital-level care for patients who no longer need the ICU or a short-term acute care hospital but still require specialized treatment and additional time to recover before returning home or moving to a lower level of care.

After a serious illness, injury, surgery, or extended hospital stay, some patients need more time to recover in a hospital setting with daily physician oversight, specialized nursing, and advanced clinical services. Solara Hospitals are uniquely designed to provide this level of care for patients recovering from medically complex conditions.

Our physician-led care teams help patients regain strength, continue healing, and prepare for a safe return home.

Solara Hospitals care for patients recovering from serious illnesses, injuries, or surgeries who still require hospital-level care after leaving the ICU or a short-term acute care hospital. Our patients often need specialized treatment, daily physician oversight, and additional time to recover before returning home or moving to the next stage of care.

Patients who may benefit from Solara Hospitals include those who:

• Need ventilator weaning, respiratory therapy, or other specialized pulmonary care
• Have medically complex conditions such as respiratory disease, stroke or brain injury, complex wounds, infectious diseases, kidney failure requiring dialysis, or complications following surgery
• Require continued hospital-level care after an extended hospital or ICU stay
• Need coordinated care from a multidisciplinary team while recovering from a serious illness or injury

The goal of a traditional hospital is to diagnose and treat serious illnesses or injuries and begin recovery as quickly as possible. Once your condition has improved and you no longer require ICU-level care, your physician may recommend transitioning to a long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) to continue your recovery.

If you still require hospital-level care, daily physician oversight, specialized nursing, or advanced clinical services, Solara Hospitals may be the best next step in your recovery. Our hospitals are uniquely designed to help patients continue healing after a serious illness, injury, surgery, or extended hospital stay.

Our goal is to provide the specialized care and additional recovery time needed to help you regain strength and safely return home.

Solara  Hospitals provide hospital-level care for patients who are recovering from a serious illness, injury, or surgery but still require daily physician oversight and specialized treatment. Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are designed for patients who no longer need hospital-level care and are ready to continue recovering in a lower-acuity setting.

Unlike a skilled nursing facility, Solara Hospitals provide:

• Daily physician visits and specialized nursing care
• 24/7 respiratory therapy and advanced respiratory care
• Hospital-level services, including dialysis, imaging, laboratory, and on-site pharmacy services
• Treatment for medically complex conditions and critically ill patients
• Specialized clinical programs, including early mobility and complex wound care

Solara Hospitals provide hospital-level care for medically complex patients who still require daily physician oversight, specialized nursing, and advanced clinical services while recovering. Inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) are designed for patients who are medically stable and able to participate in intensive rehabilitation, typically at least three hours of therapy each day.

Unlike an inpatient rehabilitation facility, Solara Hospitals provide:

• Daily physician oversight and specialized nursing care
• 24/7 respiratory therapy and hospital-level clinical support
• Treatment for medically complex conditions and critically ill patients
• Physical, occupational, and speech therapy while patients continue receiving hospital-level care
• Individualized therapy plans based on each patient's medical condition and recovery goals, without minimum daily therapy requirements

Every patient's recovery journey is different, but your care will be personalized to your medical needs and recovery goals. From the day you arrive, our physician-led care team develops a treatment plan designed to help you continue healing, regain strength, and prepare for a safe return home whenever possible.

During your stay, you can expect:

• Daily physician oversight and specialized nursing care
• A coordinated care team that may include respiratory therapists, physical, occupational, and speech therapists, pharmacists, dietitians, case managers, and other specialists
• Hospital-level services, including respiratory therapy, dialysis, imaging, laboratory, and pharmacy services as needed
• Regular communication about your treatment plan and recovery progress with you and your family
• Discharge planning that begins early to help prepare for your next step in recovery, whether that's returning home or transitioning to another appropriate care setting

Our goal is to provide the specialized care and recovery time you need to regain strength, continue healing, and safely return home whenever possible.

Want to learn more? We encourage patients and families to schedule a personalized tour of a Solara Hospital. Visiting a hospital, meeting our care team, and seeing the environment firsthand can help you better understand what to expect during your recovery.

Yes, in many cases. We encourage referring physicians to continue caring for their patients at Solara Hospitals whenever possible. If your physician has privileges at a Solara Hospital, they may continue overseeing your care during your stay.

If your physician does not have privileges at Solara , one of our experienced physicians will lead your care. With your permission, we work closely with your referring physician and care team to share updates and coordinate treatment throughout your recovery.

Our patients also have access to 24/7 physician or physician extender coverage, and specialists in internal medicine, critical care, and pulmonology are available as needed. 

Yes. Rehabilitation is an important part of recovery at Solara  Hospitals. Our physical, occupational, and speech therapists work alongside physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other specialists to help patients regain strength, mobility, communication, and independence.

Unlike an inpatient rehabilitation facility, therapy at Solara Hospitals is integrated into each patient's hospital-level care. As part of our Move Early Program, rehabilitation often begins as soon as it is medically appropriate, even for patients receiving mechanical ventilation or other advanced medical treatments.

Your therapy plan is tailored to your medical condition, recovery goals, and tolerance level. Because recovery looks different for every patient, there are no minimum daily therapy requirements.

Our goal is to help you safely regain function while continuing to receive the specialized hospital-level care you need before returning home or moving to the next stage of recovery.

The length of your stay depends on your medical condition, recovery goals, and how quickly you progress. Unlike a traditional hospital, where patients typically stay only a few days, Solara Hospitals are designed for patients who need additional time to recover while continuing to receive hospital-level care.

Most patients stay at a Solara Hospital for approximately 25 days, although some patients may need more or less time depending on their individual needs and treatment plan.

From the day you arrive, our care team begins planning for your discharge. Our goal is to help you regain strength, continue healing, and safely return home whenever possible.

Our goal is to help every patient recover enough to safely return home whenever possible. From the day you arrive, our care team begins planning for your discharge and works closely with you and your family to determine the next step based on your medical needs and recovery progress.

Many patients are able to return home, often with outpatient therapy to support their continued recovery. If additional care is needed, your care team may recommend another appropriate setting, such as:

• An inpatient rehabilitation facility
• A skilled nursing facility or subacute care unit
• Assisted living, when appropriate
• Home health services
• Outpatient rehabilitation or other follow-up care

Our team will help coordinate your transition and ensure you have the resources and support needed for the next stage of your recovery.

We work closely with your physician, hospital care team, and family to make the transition to a Solara Hospital as smooth as possible.

Once your physician determines that a Solara Hospital is the right next step, one of our Clinical Liaisons will:

• Review your medical history and current condition
• Work with your care team to coordinate your transfer
• Verify insurance coverage and answer questions about admission
• Help schedule your admission and prepare for your arrival

Our goal is to ensure a seamless transition so you can continue receiving the specialized hospital-level care you need without unnecessary delays.

Many insurance plans, including Medicare, Medicaid, and most commercial insurance plans, provide coverage for medically necessary care at Solara Hospitals. Coverage and benefits vary depending on your specific insurance plan and individual circumstances.

Before admission, our team will verify your insurance coverage, explain your benefits, and answer any questions you or your family may have. If prior authorization is required, we'll work with your physician, hospital care team, and insurance provider throughout the process.

If you have questions about insurance coverage or financial responsibilities, our admissions team is here to help.