If you or a loved one is recovering from a surgery, accident or illness and needs special care before returning home, you may qualify for our swing bed services.
What are Swing Bed Services?
The Swing Bed program at Bristow Medical Center is a federally approved program for hospitals under 50 beds and is designed to be short term. The program is intended to help you return to your previous quality of life, and prepare to return home or enter a nursing home. During your stay, your discharge options will be discussed and coordinated. Your needs will be assessed on an ongoing basis by your doctor and the hospital staff.
How do I become eligible for Swing Bed Services?
If acute care hospitalization is no longer medically necessary and you meet the predetermined Medicare criteria, you may be eligible for Swing Bed care. The following criteria must be met in order for Medicare to cover Swing Bed:
- You must require a skilled care service that must be provided by or under the supervision of professional or technical personnel such as IV therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, or occupational therapy.
- The skilled care service must be provided on a daily basis (or at least 5 days per week).
- You must have had a 3 day qualifying hospitalization within 30 days of the Swing Bed admission date.
- You must continue to show progress towards reaching your goals for discharge.
Eligibility is assessed on a daily basis during the swing bed stay to ensure the qualifying criteria are met. Discharge planning needs are addressed, options are explored and services are arranged, if needed, to help ensure that your return to your home environment is successful.