Prolonged recovery after illness or injury can be difficult for those who are not able to care for themselves independently at home. Although Nursing Home placement may be an option, many patients aren’t ready to face the often emotionally-charged issue of moving to a Nursing Home, even temporarily. The Swing Bed Program at Sacred Heart Hospital in Tomahawk presents a wonderful alternative for patients who need a little extra time to heal. The term “Swing Bed” simply means that your status changes (or swings) from an acute level of care to an intermediate level of care.
Skilled Swing Bed is a Medicare covered service that is designed to help an individual recover from an injury, surgery or extended illness in a hospital setting close to home. Swing Bed may also be used for patients with private insurance that have skilled nursing coverage as part of their policy.
“The Swing Bed Program is an appealing choice for recovering patients for many reasons,” said Paula Gebauer, Director of Nursing at Sacred Heart Hospital. “The patient can remain in his/her current hospital bed with the same caregivers with individualized attention and care.”
Gebauer added “patients hospitalized in a larger facility outside the Tomahawk community may also return to Tomahawk for Swing Bed care. This makes visits from family/friends much easier as well as the opportunity for individualized sessions from a variety of therapists that provide services at Sacred Heart Hospital.”
The goal of the Swing Bed Program at Sacred Heart Hospital is to help patients return home independently or with the help of community resources. Examples of Swing Bed stays include, but are not limited to:
“We like to think of it as building a bridge between acute hospitalization and home, making the transition easier for patients and families alike,” said Gebauer.
For more information on the Swing Bed Program at Sacred Heart Hospital, please contact Paula Gebauer at 715.453.7762.