Swing Bed Program offers recuperation close to home
The Skilled Rehabilitation Program, more commonly referred to as “Swing Bed,” is a great service offered by Pocahontas Memorial Hospital.
Patients may be admitted to Swing Bed, following a qualifying illness or surgery, to receive rehabilitation therapy or special medical treatments through this skilled nursing program. PMH offers physical, occupational and respiratory therapies. Treatments also include wound care or IV antibiotics.
Patients may qualify if they have been in a hospital on acute care for three days and require further skilled services. For example, a person may be hospitalized with congestive heart failure or pneumonia and need additional care because they are weak or debilitated. They could then transfer into the Swing Bed program. Or, maybe they have joint replacement or surgery done at a hospital out of the county and need additional physical therapy and recovery. Rather than stay at that particular hospital, patients can request to be transferred to PMH for the very same services. On average, a patient is enrolled in the program for three to six weeks.
The best part is: Medicare will pay 100 percent of the cost for the first 20 days of service. After 20 days, the patient must pay a co-pay, which secondary insurance will often cover.
Pocahontas Memorial Hospital has a dedicated and caring staff ready to carry out a comprehensive plan of care for each individual patient. That includes dietary, case management and other activities, as well as physical, occupational or respiratory therapy, as needed.
If you have any questions about this program, please contact Edwina Garber at 304-799-7400 ext. 1081.
ED access reminder
Beginning November 1 PMH’s Emergency Department doors at the outside entrance, as well as inside the building, will be secured and only those with an access card will be able to enter. If you are an emergency patient, you may still present at the emergency department entrance at the back of the hospital and medical staff will assist you. However, all visitors will be required to enter at the front of the hospital.