Abbreviations

This Monday after Easter we continue our abbreviation series with another type of post hospitalization care.

This is the most common area outside of the hospital that personal injury attorneys see malpractice cases, because of the long term patient stays, low and inappropriate staffing levels, and general lack of funds.

Without further ado:

SNF- Skilled Nursing Facility 

Pronounced "SNIFF" like when you have the sniffles. 

 A SNF is more commonly called a nursing home, and outside of the medical community you will not hear them referred to as SNF's. The reason for the term is to differentiate them from assisted living facilities (next week's abbreviation). 

A SNF has nursing care (RN) around the clock even if they don't have an appropriate numbers. A SNF can take patients who are not as sick as those who need LTAC services, but still require nursing care. 

As with LTAC the most common place to see or hear the abbreviation is in the case management notes or in the discharge notes and instructions. 

Examples

Electronic information about admission transferred to three SNF for admission approval. 

Discharge to SNF once accepted.