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Post-Acute Care Swing Bed Program: Here to help with your recovery
At Grant Regional Health Center, we understand there are times when a patient no longer needs acute care at a hospital—yet it may not be safe, or they may not be strong enough or well enough, to return home. For those patients, we offer a comfortable alternative with the Post-Acute Care Swing Bed program.
What is Swing Bed?
Swing Bed is a Medicare program that allows patients to receive skilled care services at hospitals like GRHC, once acute hospital care is no longer required for patients who need continued short-term rehabilitation and care before they can safely return home.
At GRHC, the Swing Bed program is designed to provide patients with individualized, in-hospital care—including nursing and therapy services—to achieve a maximum degree of independent functioning and confidence before they return home.
The program also allows patients to receive acute care elsewhere and then return to be closer to home and to the community, people and support systems with which they are comfortable.
Who qualifies for Swing Bed care?
Medicare Part A and qualified insurance plans provide the following eligibility guidelines:
- Patient has had a three-day acute hospital stay within a 30-day period (from any hospital).
- The patient has a stable medical status.
- A physician order and authorization has been obtained.
- The skilled care needed is directly related to the patient's acute-care hospitalization.
Who could benefit from this program?
- Patients who need rehabilitation or therapy, such as following a stroke, or after surgery.
- Patients receiving IV therapy or wound care.
- Patients needing to regain strength and mobility after an illness, injury or surgery.
How long can patients stay?
Swing Bed is considered to be a short-term, accelerated rehab program. The average length of stay is generally 7 to 30 days, but can alter based on condition, insurance and clinical judgment. The length of stay depends on patients' needs and Medicare/insurance guidelines.
Once a patient is admitted into the Swing Bed program, eligibility is reviewed on a daily basis by GRHC staff. To remain in the program, the patient must be participating and making progress in addition to the criteria listed above.
What happens next?
Each patient makes progress based on individual medical needs and rehabilitative potential. The multidisciplinary Swing Bed team will continuously monitor your progress and evaluate new goals until they determine you are ready for discharge. A patient may be referred for further home health or other outpatient/rehabilitative and community services after discharge.
Who is involved in your care?
The multidisciplinary team providing services includes: physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, nursing staff, a dietitian, a pharmacist and a social worker/case manager. Staff can also arrange visits from your clergy.
Comforts of home during your stay
Our modern Med/Surg patient rooms were designed with patient comfort in mind. The abundance of natural light, calming colors, and enhanced technology and services make our Swing Bed program a wonderful alternative for patients who need additional care and are not quite ready to go home. The new space symbolizes our commitment to a patient-centered model of care. This type of environment provides the best of both worlds—important care and support patients need with the comforts of home for an enjoyable recovery period.
Categories: Rehabilitation