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W HAT IS A S WING B ED ? ical or surgical stay • Specialized wound care • IV therapy • Orthopedic rehabilitation post any surgery • Stroke rehabilitation What types of services do Swing Bed programs offer? The goal with a Swing Bed pro- gram is to help you achieve your maximum level of func- tion and return home. Because Swing Bed programs are locat- ed within hospitals, they’re often able to offer specialized service such as: • Specialized wound care • IV therapy • 24 hour registered nurses on staff • High nurse to patient ratio • In-house pharmacies and registered dieticians • Rehab therapy services located onsite • 24 hour emergency depart- ment onsite • Discharge planning/social services Who pays for Swing Bed? Medicare Part A will generally pay for Swing Bed if the patient meets the following Medicare criteria: • Your Swing Bed care must be related to an acute hospi- tal stay. • You must need skilled nurs- ing or skilled rehabilitative services on a daily basis, and must be complex enough

on’t feel bad if you’ve never heard of the term Swing Bed, you’re not alone! But, it’s never too late to do a little research and discover a recovery option that has a variety of benefits. One of the best benefits - Swing Bed pro- grams are located in rural com- munity hospitals which makes recovering close to family and friends easy! The information below will help you to determine if Swing Bed care would be a good fit for you or your loved one: What is a Swing Bed? Medicare permits certain small rural hospitals to use its beds as needed, either for acute care or skilled care, hence the term “Swing Bed,” as physicians may “swing” patients from one level of care to another while staying in the same facility. Be aware that Swing Bed programs differ from one facility to another. If you find yourself needing time to recover from a surgery, illness or injury, a Swing Bed program would allow you to recover in a hospital setting, versus a nursing home. In the hospital, you would have easy access to nursing care and therapies. The goal of a Swing Bed program is to assist you or your loved one in becom- ing as independent as possible before discharge. When is Swing Bed appropriate? If you or a loved one needs any of the following care, Swing Bed would be appropriate: • Need to heal and regain strength through physical, occupational and speech thera- pies to aid in a safe return home or to other living arrangements, post acute med-

that services must be per- formed by or under the super- vision of professional or tech- nical personnel. • You must have had a three night qualifying stay in an acute care setting in the past 30 days. Many commercial insurances also offer a Swing Bed benefit, which would need to be verified by the hospital prior to an admission to Swing Bed. Patients may also pay privately, and would need to contact their local Swing Bed pro- gram on price. How long can I stay in a Swing Bed program? Generally, you can stay in a Swing Bed program as long as you are making measurable progress as determined by reha- bilitation services, nursing, and the physician. You could be in the program for as little as three days, or up to 100 days. After you have reached your goals, Medicare will no longer fund your stay in a Swing Bed program. It is very important to check with the facili- ty of your choice to inquire about how their program is run. If the hospital where I recently stayed doesn’t have Swing Bed, am I out of luck? No! You will want to ask your discharge planner, case manager or social worker to help you find a local hospital that offers Swing Bed programs in your area. When it comes to your health and what is right for you, be proactive and don’t be afraid to ask! Article Submitted by Edgerton Hospital & Health Services

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