What is Swing Bed?

Swing Bed is a short-stay, hospital based program for patients who no longer need inpatient care, but still require additional rehabilitation or skilled nursing care before returning Home.  This added care helps patients reach their highest potential for independence by providing the continued help they need to return home safely.

Services are customized to each patient’s need and may include:

Nursing: provides recovery care, IV services, pain management, and education

Physical therapy: provides injury rehabilitation and helps patients build strength to prevent falls and gain movement, balance, and flexibility to resume activities like walking or exercising

Occupational therapy: focuses on daily living skills that may include dressing and bathing

Respiratory therapy: helps with respiratory needs and provides education about oxygen use

Nutrition services: offers nutritional education and support

Speech therapy:  helps with communication skills, reading, and safe swallowing

Social work:  helps patients and their families find additional services and resources for further health education ( can also coordinate healthcare directives for patients)

Pharmacy:  works with medical team to meet your medication needs

Length of Swing Bed Stay for Insurances

If you have Traditional Medicare, the benefit covers services up to 20 days in full and up to 80 additional days with a co-payment, as long as Medicare criteria are met.  Medicare supplements usually pay the deductible when Medicare continues coverage.  Medicare Advantage plans and private health insurances may also cover swing bed care pending pre-approval.  The swing bed care team, including physicians, nursing, therapy, services, social services, dietitians, and case management staff, monitors each patient’s progress to determine how long the swing bed care is needed. 

What you Can Expect

The length of a swing bed stay is determined by a patient’s condition.  Care could range from a few days to a few weeks.  Patients are required to participate in daily therapies or rehabilitation care and must show that they are progressing toward their set health goals.

Returning Home

Moore County Hospital District Swing Bed Program will assist with the following:

Arrange for transportation from area tertiary care hospitals

Work with you to plan for leaving the hospital 

Arrange for home-based services, if needed

Arrange for alternate living arrangement

Coordinate other community services and family help

Coordinate the purchase of home medical equipment and supplies (walker, wheelchair, shower chair, commode, etc.)

For more information, please contact our care coordinator at (806) 934-7849

CALL COORDINATOR