Swing Bed

Skilled nursing, rehabilitation, transitional, and palliative care — close to home.

Our Swing Bed Program provides skilled nursing, rehabilitation, transitional care, and palliative care in a hospital setting with a full range of services to support recovery and comfort. Patients benefit from being cared for in their local hospital, surrounded by family and friends — offering the emotional support that promotes healing and well-being.

Services Offered (include but not limited to):

• Central Venous Line Care
• Health Teaching and Patient Education
• Long-term IV Antibiotics
• Occupational Therapy
• Ostomy Care and Training
• Physical Therapy
• Respiratory Therapy
• Social Services
• Speech Therapy
• Palliative Care and Symptom Management
• Wound Care
• Transitional Care Services

With the Swing Bed Program, patients can regain independence, recover strength, manage symptoms, and transition home with fewer complications.

Immediate Access to Acute Care

Because the Swing Bed Program is located within Rice Medical Center, patients have the unique benefit of immediate access to a full hospital environment if their condition changes. This includes:

• 24-hour Emergency Services
• Onsite physician coverage and rapid response
• Inpatient hospital capabilities
• Advanced imaging and laboratory services
• Specialty consultations as needed

And best of all — all of these services can be provided from the same bed. Patients do not have to move locations or be transferred to another facility to receive higher-level care. This ensures continuity, comfort, and safety throughout the recovery process.

What is a Swing Bed?

Sometimes patients need a little more time to recover after an illness, injury, or surgery. The Swing Bed Program was created by the federal government to help rural communities with limited access to nursing home beds, while making the best use of local hospital resources.

A Swing Bed allows patients to “swing,” or move, from acute care to skilled rehabilitation — without leaving the hospital. Patients often remain in the same bed, cared for by the same staff, while receiving skilled nursing, rehabilitation therapies (physical, occupational, and speech therapy), palliative care, and transitional services to prepare for a safe and supportive return home.

Who Qualifies?

Swing Bed extended care is for patients who:

• No longer require acute hospitalization but are not ready to return home.
• Are recovering from stroke, cardiac or respiratory illness, or other medical conditions.
• Need wound care not manageable at home or in an outpatient setting.
• Require skilled nursing, transitional care, palliative care, or rehabilitation therapy.
• Need IV therapy or long-term antibiotics.
• Are recovering from joint replacement or other surgeries.

Program Benefits:

• Low nurse-to-patient ratio
• Private rooms
• Therapy offered 6 days a week, 2–3 hours per day as tolerated
• Palliative care services focused on comfort, dignity, and quality of life
• Emergency and inpatient hospital services immediately available — all from the same bed

Length of Stay

Patients may remain in the Swing Bed Program as long as transitional, rehabilitative, or palliative care goals are being met. Once recovery or care goals are achieved, patients are discharged home or transitioned to the next appropriate level of care. Length of stay may vary depending on insurance coverage.

Insurance Coverage

Traditional Medicare

• Requires a minimum three-night inpatient hospital stay within the past 30 days.
• Admission must be ordered by a physician.
• Patient must require daily skilled nursing or therapy (rehab) services.
• Coverage continues as long as the patient is making progress and skilled care is required — as determined by their physician.

Medicare Advantage (MA) Plans

• Do not follow the same rules as Traditional Medicare.
• Most MA plans require prior authorization before Swing Bed admission.
• Each MA plan has its own criteria for coverage, including length of stay and what services are included.
• Families should contact our Case Management team directly to confirm eligibility, obtain authorization, and determine any limits.

Commercial Insurance



• Some commercial insurance plans cover Swing Bed services, but benefits vary.
• Families should contact our Case Management team directly to confirm coverage and plan-specific requirements.
  

Rice Medical Center’s Swing Bed Program blends skilled nursing, transitional care, rehabilitation therapies, palliative care, and the safety of immediate hospital services — all provided from the same bed — helping patients recover fully, manage symptoms, and return home with confidence and dignity.