Advanced Nursing Care & Extended Physical Rehabilitation Services
Valley Health’s Transitional Care program, more commonly known as
a “swing bed program,” offers comprehensive short-term post-acute
rehabilitation services. These services include skilled nursing, physical
therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy; along with other services
that are normally provided in a hospital.
The goal of transitional care is to help patients focus on increasing independence
and quality of life to seamlessly move from acute hospitalization to the
next level of care. Most commonly, patients who benefit from transitional
care include:
Neurologic- stroke, Parkinson’s disease
Orthopedic- total joint replacement, compound fractures, hip fracture, spinal surgery
Weakness after an extended hospitalization resulting in an inability to
care for yourself at home
Who Pays for Transitional Care?
In general, Medicare Part A will pay for Transitional Care if a patient
meets the following criteria:
The visit must be linked to an acute 3-night hospital stay in the last 30 days
The patient must require inpatient skilled nursing or therapy services
on a daily basis under the supervision of healthcare professionals.
Medicare will cover the first 20 days at 100% with a co-pay required for
additional service days as needed. Many commercial insurances, as well
as, Medicare HMOs, also offer transitional care (swing bed) benefit, which
would need to be verified by the hospital prior to admission to a Valley
Health Transitional Care program.
How Long Can I Stay In a Transitional Care Program?
A patient can stay in a Valley Health Transitional Care program as long
as they are making clinically meaningful progress as determined by the
interdisciplinary care team in conjunction with the insurance benefit
guidelines. The average length of stay for a transitional care patient
at Valley Health is 8-14 days. Upon completion, patients will be discharged
to one of the following:
Home with no follow-up services
Home with home health for nursing and/or rehabilitation services
Home with an order for outpatient rehabilitation services
Assisted living facility
Skilled nursing or long term care facility
Home with hospice
Visitation
For the safety of our patients, visitors, staff and the broader community,
visitation hours may vary. Please
click here for the most current visitation guidelines.
How Do I Find Out More Information?
For assistance requesting admission to a Valley Health Transitional Care
Program, please contact the hospital nearest you:
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