A 66-year-old man is evaluated for discharge on hospital day 12. He was admitted for a severe acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. He was successfully extubated three days ago and is currently stable on 2 L/min of oxygen via nasal cannula. He is hemodynamically stable, afebrile, and his acute respiratory infection has resolved. His comorbidities include heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and type 2 diabetes mellitus. During his intensive care unit stay, he developed a new Stage 3 pressure injury on his sacrum that requires daily skilled wound care. Prior to admission, he was fully ambulatory and independent. Currently, he requires moderate assistance with all transfers and can walk only 15 feet with a walker before becoming severely dyspneic and fatigued. A physical therapy evaluation concludes that he has significant rehabilitation potential but can currently tolerate a total of only 60 to 90 minutes of therapy spread throughout the day due to cardiopulmonary limitations. Laboratory studies show a stable serum creatinine of 1.4 mg/dL (baseline 1.3 mg/dL). He lives with his elderly wife, who has severe osteoarthritis and uses a wheelchair, rendering her unable to assist him with mobility or personal care.
Which of the following is the most appropriate disposition plan for this patient?
- Transfer to a skilled nursing facilityCevap
- BTransfer to an inpatient rehabilitation facility
- CTransfer to a long-term acute care hospital
- DDischarge home with comprehensive home health services
- ERetain in the acute care hospital for intravenous fluid administration until renal function normalizes