Swing Bed Program

The Swing Bed program at Rainy Lake Medical Center provides short-term, skilled care in a hospital setting. Swing Bed allows your healthcare team to change—or “swing”—your level of care from acute, which requires hospitalization, to skilled nursing, rehabilitation, or other skilled services. RLMC’s orthopedic patients, such as those recovering from total knee replacements performed here in our Surgical Center, or in another facility, can also access the Swing Bed program.

Swing Bed allows patients to transfer from acute care to a skilled care setting while remaining in the hospital. Even if you received care at another hospital, you can take advantage of the benefits of Swing Bed at Rainy Lake Medical Center by being close to home and family.

Swing Bed ensures you receive the appropriate level of care while maximizing your Medicare health plan benefits.

To participate in the Swing Bed program, patients must:

Be covered under Medicare insurance, or a plan that has Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Benefits.
Receive acute care as a hospital inpatient for a medically necessary stay of at least three consecutive days at RLMC, or be immediately transferred following a three-day stay at another facility.
Require rehabilitation, skilled nursing, or a skilled care service following this hospitalization.

Therapies offered through Swing Bed include:

Physical, occupational, and speech therapies
Nursing
Dietary
Counseling
Pharmacy
Case Management
Patient activities
End-of-life care

Swing Bed activities

Although the needs of each Swing Bed patient are unique, those participating in the Swing Bed program for rehabilitation are expected to be able to perform basic daily tasks—getting up and out of bed, dressing in street clothes, eating meals at a bedside table, engaging in entertainment/socialization activities, and participating in physical therapy and/or occupational therapy as applicable.

Participation varies

Length of participation in the Swing Bed program can vary. Most patients stay less than 20 days and are discharged once they have met therapeutic goals or no longer require skilled care. Those who are expected to require skilled care for more than 20 days are often transferred to a nursing home or other appropriate facility. If a patient is in Swing Bed and needs services beyond 20 days, a copay will be in effect for the remainder of their stay. Secondary insurance companies may pay copays beyond 20 days.

Payment and coverage

Swing Bed services are covered by Medicare and many private insurance carriers. One of our Patient Financial Counselors is available to discuss these options with you.

Prescription medications are covered by Medicare when you are in the Swing Bed program, however non-prescription medications, supplements, and personal care items are not. If your physician orders non-prescription medications, such as an antacid or stool softener, they may be brought from home or purchased from a local drugstore or the hospital.

For more information about the Swing Bed program at Rainy Lake Medical Center, please call the
Case Management department at (218) 283-5459.