What is a Swing Bed?

Swing beds do not refer to actual beds but instead refer to a service level that allows certain small, rural hospitals or critical access hospitals (CAHs) to use their beds to provide patients with either acute care or skilled nursing care in the same facility. The name refers to the flexibility of these beds, where patients can either “swing” or transition from acute care into skilled care, depending on the patient’s needs. The length of stay varies, depending on patient needs and treatment goals.

Why Do Patients Need Swing Bed Services?

Swing bed services are provided after an illness, injury or surgery when patients no longer need acute inpatient care, but need the following before returning home safely:

• Rehab or skilled care after a recent hospitalization
• Wound care
• Rehabilitation after surgery
• Therapy after a stroke, accident, or injury
• Longer term IV antibiotics

What is Available in Swing Bed?

• Nursing: Provides recovery care, pain management, and education.
• Physical Therapy: Provides injury rehabilitation and helping patients build strength to prevent falls, gain movement, balance, and flexibility to resume activities like walking or exercising.
• Occupational Therapy: Focuses on daily living skills that may include dressing, cooking, laundry, bathing and safety awareness.
• Speech Therapy: Helps with communication skills, reading, and safe swallowing.
• Respiratory Therapy: Provides respiratory care and education about oxygen use.
• Discharge Planning: Helps patients and families access community services and resources, as part of planning for a safe discharge. Also assists with advance directives, Medicaid, and Medicare questions.

Why Choose Swing Bed Services at Kingman Healthcare Center?

• Excellent patient-to-staff ratios
• Providers on site daily and higher level of medical supervision compared to skilled nursing facilities
• Small town touch=better communication about your care
• Private rooms
• Easily accessible from Wichita, Hutchinson, and Pratt
• Rehab team that offers home visits to assess the safety of the home
• New ADL (activities of daily living) room with kitchen & bath

To refer a patient to our Swing Bed Program, call Melinda Hageman, KHC Social Worker and Swing Bed Coordinator, at 620-553-4192.

Swing Bed Fax Line: 620-532-0131