Memorial Hospital provides a skilled care program which allows for the utilization of a hospital bed when patients do not need additional acute hospitalization but do require further skilled level of services.

Under the direction of the patient’s physician, nursing care is provided as well as rehabilitation services, physical, occupational and speech therapies, and other skilled services as indicated.

Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance companies cover an admission to skilled care when the following required criteria are met:

• The patient has had an acute inpatient hospital stay of at least three nights in the past 30 days.
• The patient has a skilled care need that is a result of the illness that required the acute hospitalization.
• The patient’s physician orders skilled care.

How does skilled care differ from acute care?

• Vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure) are taken once every 24 hours unless otherwise specified by your physician.
• Emphasis is on rehabilitation and preparation for dismissal.
• Your personal physician will see you at least weekly, or as needed. He will not necessarily visit daily.
• Skilled Care patients are encouraged to dress in their own clothes if possible.

What if a patient becomes acute again?

Should a skilled care patient become acutely ill again, he/she will be discharged as a Skilled Care patient and readmitted as an Acute Care patient without leaving the hospital and in most cases without even changing rooms.

For more information about Memorial Hospital’s Skilled Care Swing Bed Services, contact our Utilization Review Department at 402-694-8262.