Times have changed dramatically in the medical world. It used to be that if you became ill, you went to the hospital and you were not sent home until well. Today, hospital patients are discharged rapidly, even after strokes, heart attacks, surgery, and infections.

For most, the next step is a referral to a rehabilitation facility to regain strength and wellness. Some are part of a hospital system while others are rehabilitation neighborhoods located in nursing homes, such as Wesbury’s Grace Rehabilitation and Health Center.   Despite the fact patients arrive with complexities that would have warranted a longer hospital stay, most rehab facilities do not have a full-time doctor on staff requiring patients to go from the rotating Hospitalists (doctors) in the hospital to an attending physician in the nursing home that typically will not see them frequently.

The state mandates a nursing home patient be seen by a doctor within fourteen days of admission and generally every 60 days thereafter.   All Nursing homes have a Medical Director, but this role is designed to focus on quality and policy, not seeing patients. Some physicians will follow their patient in a nursing home, but many do not. In this case, the patient is provided with a list of physicians that will accept them in the home and typically see them infrequently.  This is where Wesbury is exceptional and unique.

When past President Donald Clawson and Wesbury’s Certified Medical Director, Dr. John H. Bailey III DO, CMD and Geriatric Specialist, saw the shift to post-acute care being provided in the nursing home, they knew having a fulltime Doctor would make a world of difference.  At Wesbury, Dr. Bailey has his office on site, and Wesbury patients are his sole focus. He sees new admissions within 72 hours and at least twice a week thereafter. It provides great customer service and a huge comfort to families who are emotionally charged as they cope with their loved one’s condition.

Dr. Bailey is passionate about what he does. After 25 years as Medical Director at Wesbury he has seen firsthand the impact that having a Doctor on site has for the residents. He knows his patients by name, how they look day to day and can see when there is a change, allowing him to address concerns right away. “Just familiarity with each patient is huge” notes Dr. Bailey, “they arrive ill, debilitated and on many medications. We can work with the patient and family, analyze progress, decide what medications are relevant and reduce those no longer necessary.  The results are profound”.

If the details don’t impress you, the data will. The average “return to home” percentage of rehabilitation admissions to nursing homes and rehab facilities around the country is 52.8%. In 2018 65% of Grace Rehabilitation and Health Center admissions were short term, and 79.5% of those that came for rehab went home! Data also shows Wesbury patients experience less skin issues, emergency room visits, and hospital readmissions. “The fact that patients are coming in acutely ill and are discharged stable is a huge testimony to the outstanding quality of the healthcare team at Wesbury,” says Dr. Bailey,” as Medical Director that makes me very proud.”

In recognition of National Doctor’s Day on March 30th, Wesbury would like to say “Thank you” to Dr. Bailey for what he does for residents and their families. We are honored by his commitment to Wesbury and his dedication to those he serves.