Short Term Rehab

The Swing Bed Program is a Medicare program within our hospital. It is designed to serve patients who are in a transition phase of illness or recovery and no longer require acute inpatient services, but whose needs may not be met in a home setting. The Swing Bed Program provides an alternative to sending patients to an inpatient rehabilitation center or long-term care facility, such as a nursing home or a skilled-nursing facility. Patients receive nursing care with an emphasis on rehabilitation potential and the patient’s ability to perform daily activities.

Patients Who Are Candidates For Swing Bed Services

Patients with recent joint replacements or orthopedic surgery who require daily physical therapy.
Stroke patients with the potential to improve their level of capability and function through continued daily therapy.
Cardiac patients who need skilled therapy programs following a heart attack or an acute episode of congestive heart failure.
Patients with long-term illnesses, such as cancer or immune-deficiency diseases.

Skilled Services Include But Are Not Limited To

Care for terminal patients needing pain control or skilled, supportive care
Tube feedings and nutritional stabilization
Instructions in ostomy or stoma care
IV antibiotics
Wound care
Patient education for insulin administration, testing blood sugars, and diet management
Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Speech Therapy

Swing Bed Admission Criteria

To meet the Medicare criteria for Swing Bed services, the patient must have been an inpatient at any acute-care hospital for three (3) days within the previous thirty days. For example, you could have been hospitalized in Alachua County and would still meet criteria.
Medicare covers Swing Bed services for a specific length of stay. Some other insurance carriers may cover these services, but prior authorization is necessary.
Our local physicians and clinicians will be happy to work with your primary physician or surgeon, regardless of the location, to provide you with the best care possible.
The scope of medical services available in the Swing Bed Program includes skilled nursing care; physical therapy; respiratory therapy; social services; mental health services; referrals; discharge planning; speech therapy; occupational therapy; and other aspects of treatment.

Swing Bed Rights & Responsibilities

We present the following patient rights and responsibilities as the policy of our Swing Bed program. Lake Butler Hospital has many functions to perform, and above all, we recognize your dignity as a human being and your right to self-determination. As a resident in the Swing Bed program at Lake Butler Hospital, you have the right:

To be treated with consideration, respect, and full recognition of your dignity and individuality, including privacy in treatment and care of your personal needs.
To be fully informed of your medical condition, participate in care planning, and make choices about your treatment unless adjudged incompetent or otherwise found to be incapacitated under the laws of the State.
To be fully informed in advance about the care and treatment and any changes in that care or treatment that may affect your well-being.
To choose activities, schedules, and healthcare consistent with your interests, assessments, and plans of care.
To be fully informed, before or at the time of admission and during your stay, of services available in the facility and related charges, including any charges for services not covered under Medicare, or not covered by the facility’s basic daily rate.
To associate and communicate privately with persons of your choice and send or receive your personal mail unopened.
To exercise your rights as a resident of LBH and as a citizen or resident of the U.S.
To be free of interference, coercion, discrimination, or reprisal from LBH in exercising his/her rights.
To request and receive a copy of your health care record.
To be fully informed in a language that you understand of your total health status, including, but not limited to, your medical condition.
To refuse treatment and to refuse to participate in experimental research.
To create an Advance Directive such as a Power of Attorney for Healthcare that directs life-sustaining treatment decisions.
To manage your personal financial affairs free from interference.
To choose a personal attending physician or other healthcare services provided at LBH – or allow the hospital to make appropriate appointments. Your physician must have practice privileges at LBH.
To personal privacy and confidentiality, including accommodations, medical treatment, written and telephone communications, personal care, visits, and meetings of family and resident groups.
To be assured confidential treatment of your personal and medical records and approve or refuse their release to any individual outside of the facility – except as required by law or a third party payment contract.
To be allowed unrestricted communications with public officials and attorneys.
To be allowed privacy for visits with family, friends, clergy, or social workers.
To have reasonable access to telephones to make and receive confidential calls.
To participate in social, religious, and community activities that do not interfere with the rights of other residents in the hospital.
To voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal.
To not be required to perform services for the hospital that are not included for therapeutic purposes in your care plan.
To retain and use your personal clothing and possessions as space permits – unless to do so would infringe upon the rights of other patients, and/or would be medically contraindicated – as documented in your medical record by your physician.
To be assured privacy for visits by your spouse. If both are patients of the Swing Bed program, you will be permitted to share a room – unless documented in your record as medically contraindicated.
To have a right to physical and emotional privacy in treatment, living arrangements, and caring for personal needs.
To have the right to access transportation services. Case Management can assist with coordinating transportation. These services may not be covered by your insurance.
To be free from verbal, sexual, physical, chemical, and mental abuse, corporal punishment, and involuntary seclusion.
To be free from any physical or chemical restraints, unless authorized in writing by a physician, for a specified and limited period of time. If needed, restraints will be used only to protect you from injury to yourself or others.
To have real or alleged abuse reported immediately to administration in a manner consistent with regulations.
To be transferred or discharged only for a medical reason, or your welfare or that of other patients, or for nonpayment to your stay (except as prohibited by Medicare and Medicaid).
To be given reasonable advance notice to ensure your orderly transfer or discharge so you may make your wishes known and participate in the planning of your move.

Your Swing Bed Resident Responsibilities Include

To provide, to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information about present illnesses, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, mobility, and other matters relating to your health.
To report unexpected changes in your condition to the health care team.
To make it known whether you clearly understand your plan of care or need further explanation.
To actively participate in your plan of care. Refusal of treatments or therapies may result in discharge from Swing Bed.
To assure that the financial obligations of your healthcare are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
To follow hospital rules and regulations affecting your care and conduct.
To be considerate of the rights of other patients and facility personnel.
To be respectful of the property of other persons and of the hospital.
To follow Lake Butler Hospital’s smoke-free campus policy.