Swing Bed Care Facilities

Health care facilities that are licensed for both acute care and skilled nursing, skilled rehabilitation and/or extended acute care, designate a specific number of beds as available for either acute care or long-term care, and have a program which allows patients to begin in acute care and then "swing" to another level of care at the direction of their physician without leaving the hospital. People who can benefit from a swing bed program include patients needing rehabilitative physical therapy services following orthopedic surgery, IV therapy, wound care treatment or restorative nursing procedures such as ostomy training; and may be routinely considered for patients who have hip or knee surgery. To qualify, patients must have a three-day acute level care stay within a 30 day period prior to requiring swing bed care. Swing bed care is covered by Medicare and many private insurance plans.