Providing SNF coverage

[Guest guest]

I'm looking for some help with a possible transition. My wife (also a PT)

currently works for a small SNF, with 77 beds. It's privately owned and up

until recently management/ownership has not really tried to make any money

through rehab. Currently there is 1 PT (my wife), 1 OT and then a couple per

diem fill ins. They are technically self employed and contract themselves to

work there. They typically have had a caseload of about 2-3 when slow to as

high as maybe 8-10 and the vast majority of them are Medicare A. In the past

they have tried to, whenever possible, have Restorative nursing work with

residents that declined or returned from a brief hospital stay with minimal

change in functional status and if that didn't help then try skilled PT.

Management is changing hands and have approached my wife about being a " rehab

manager " to oversee the therapy and make better/more appropriate decisions as

far as which residents need skilled therapy and to increase the usage of therapy

in general. Has anyone been in a situation like this and kind of started their

own company and brought the therpists under their leadership? With such a small

SNF there may not be any full time employees as it could potentially be staffed

with part time or even per diem therapists. How difficult would this be from a

business standpoint, especially regarding possible need for health insurance

coverage for the potential employees, liability coverage, etc. Can something

like this be done without a lawyers help? We are trying to weigh the pros/cons

and cost associated with any benefits it might provide. Any feedback positive

or negative would be more than welcome. Discussion through the list serve would

be great, but if anyone wants to discuss this offline, you can contact me at

tbardua@... .

Thanks in advance for any help, feedback, etc.

Todd Bardua PT

Bloomsburg, PA