Submitted
Mountain Lakes Medical Center launched a comprehensive patient centric Swing Bed Program on Aug. 15.
Swing Bed provides a range of therapies in our rural hospital setting to help patients recover those skills and be able to care for themselves once they return home.
“Swing Bed is great. It allows us to provide skilled services to patients who need short term rehabilitation in a hometown hospital setting,” said Susan Fisher, LPN, case manager.
Why The Swing Bed Program is Unique
• On-site Rehab Gym
• As a smaller facility, our in-house physicians and nurse practitioners are allotted more time with Swing Bed patients, making rounds every day. This surpasses the Medicare requirement of doctor rounding only once a week.
• Nurse to patient ratio is 1:3
• Average length of stay: 12 days
• 80 percent of our Swing Bed patients return home after their stay
• Pet visits: Pet are a part of your family too!
Short visits with pets can be arranged for patients with lengthy stays.
• Patients can recover in a relaxing, quite environment in a private room.
One of the best advantages for patients is that Medicare will cover 100 percent of costs up to 20 days in the Swing Bed Program, providing the patient has a skilled need and is actively participating in the program. If more time is needed, days 21-100 are covered by Medicare 80 percent, requiring a 20 percent copay. It is important to understand that Swing Bed care requires the use of the Medicare patient’s skilled nursing facility benefit. Swing Bed is not intended for permanent placement; it is for continued care until the patient returns home or transfers to a facility for longer term care.
Mountain Lakes Medical Center is an innovative, 60,000 square foot modern acute care medical center built on a foundation of patient-centered attention. The hospital provides quality, comprehensive medical care and preventive health services for the Rabun County community and communities throughout Northeast Georgia, Southwest North Carolina and Western South Carolina. “Your Hometown Hospital Committed to Excellence.