Swing bed (or Skilled Nursing Care) is a Medicare program designed to provide additional inpatient care to those needing extra time to heal or strengthen before returning home. The term swing bed came from the idea that the patient will "swing", or transition, from inpatient acute care through the program to return home to the same level of independence prior to entering the hospital.
When is Swing Bed Appropriate?
Quite often, the swing bed program is utilized for patients who have had surgery such as hip or other joint replacement. Individuals who have had these types of surgeries in Lubbock or surrounding cities can be transferred to Memorial Hospital (home) to receive swing bed services. In addition to major surgery, a lengthy or severe illness can also result in the need for swing bed care. In this instance, the patient can either transfer from a larger facility to Memorial Hospital for swing bed care or if currently in Memorial Hospital , simply change rooms to receive swing bed care.
What type of care is provided?
The majority of swing bed patients receive physical therapy in order to regain their strength after surgery or illness. The physical therapy department will perform tests to evaluate joint mobility, muscle strength and endurance, and neurological function.
The physical therapy team then designs individualized treatment plans which may involve therapeutic exercises, endurance training, training in activities of daily living, massage, joint mobilization, applications of heat and cold, hydrotherapy, comprehensive wound care, electrical stimulation and more.
Speech and respiratory therapy are also commonly provided to swing bed patients. All therapies use short and long-term goals to assess the achievement of the patients while in the program.
Who pays for it?
Medicare is the primary payer of swing bed services, however many commercial insurance companies also provide swing bed (skilled nursing) coverage. Questions regarding your commercial insurance coverage should be directed to you insurance carrier. Information regarding Medicare coverage can be found at www.medicare.gov or by calling 800-633-4227.
Most commercial insurance companies structure their swing bed coverage similar to the requirements and timeframes of Medicare. Medicare will cover swing bed care for up to 100 days with various co-pay charges. The length of stay for a swing bed patient is dependent upon the patient's progress and is determined by the physician and patient care team working with the patient. Sometimes, after the patient has completed the swing bed program, he/she may need additional help adjusting to living at home again. In those cases, Memorial Home Health (see facilities) can provide in-home care to complete the recovery and transition process.
