Services :: Medicare Skilled Nursing

At Family Health West, we provide Medicare Skilled Nursing (Swing Beds) in our hospital setting. Patients are admitted under nursing home criteria; however, our hospital setting offers the distinct advantage of providing on-site physical, speech and occupational therapies, as well as laboratory and x-ray services. Our patient-responsive rehabilitation climate assists patients to reverse or slow down declines and maintain at their highest possible level of functioning. Services are designed to meet the specific needs of each patient. In the hospital setting, staff-to-patient ratios are higher and nursing staff is Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certified.

As a swing bed patient, 24-hour acute care is no longer needed, patients may not see the doctor as often as they did while their condition was acute, and usually laboratory work or checking of vital signs isn’t done as often. Nursing care may include telemetry monitoring, dressing changes, a nutritional assessment or evaluation of medication. A patient’s active participation in resuming daily activities such as getting up, getting dressed and participating in organized activities will aid in recovery. Once patients gain the strength and independence to return to their home environment, they will receive home care instructions as well as any needed arrangements with community agencies.

Dependent on each patient’s need and condition, the average length of stay is two weeks. Medicare Part A funds the Medicare Skilled Nursing program and admission must be preceded by an acute hospital stay.

For admission referrals or inquiries call our professional team at (970) 234-2420.