A Study of Extended Care Facilities at Saint Joseph Hospital, Fort Worth, Texas

The problem was to determine the planning considerations to be taken by Saint Joseph Hospital, Fort Worth, Texas in establishing an extended care facility. In resolving this problem, it was first necessary to examine the major factors that influenced the evolution and development of extended care facilities in general hospitals. The conflicting or overlapping definitions of extended care found in the literature were assimilated and reviewed. A survey of the physicians attitudes toward the concept and rationale of extended care facilities in short-term hospitals was accomplished by means of a questionnaire. A patient-needs survey was accomplished to determine the number of patients who would qualify for transfer to the extended care facility. It was concluded that the planning considerations to be taken by St. Josephs are: (1) to develop the philosophy and define the objectives of the extended care unit; (2) to determine the admission and disposition policies; (3) to determine the range of services to be provided by the extended care facility staff; (4) to determine the acceptability to physicians of such a course of action; (5) to develop the nursing staff requirements; (6) to determine the optimum size of the extended care facility; and (7) to examine the costs of construction.