Recover Closer to Home: Artesia General Hospital’s Short-Term Skilled Nursing Care Swing Bed Program
When a medical event, injury, or surgery requires intensive recovery, short-term skilled nursing care often brings up many questions. Residents in Artesia, Carlsbad, and Roswell need high-quality care that bridges the gap from hospital to home. Artesia General Hospital’s Swing Bed Program provides this vital service. We design our personalized care to maximize your recovery and independence. This ensures the best path to healing right in your community. When seeking a New Mexico Swing Bed provider, choose our local, expert team.
Call us at 575.703.0274 for questions about eligibility, insurance, and transfers.
What is a Swing Bed and How is it Different from a Nursing Home?
“Swing Bed” is a designation that allows an acute care hospital bed to “swing” to provide specialized rehabilitation and care. Essentially, it allows you to remain in a hospital setting while receiving services similar to a skilled nursing facility (SNF).
The crucial difference between this program and a long-term care facility is the duration and goal:
- Swing Bed Program (Short-Term Skilled Nursing Care): This is a form of transitional care unit. The focus is intense and restorative. You receive daily therapy and high-level medical care. Our singular goal is getting you home safely and quickly.
- Long-Term Care/Nursing Home: These facilities typically provide custodial care for individuals needing long-term assistance with daily living.
Am I Eligible for Short-Term Skilled Nursing Care at AGH?
For patients seeking rehabilitation after surgery in Artesia or a nearby location, determining swing bed eligibility is the first step. Our program follows specific Medicare guidelines, which ensure that only patients who truly need daily, intensive skilled services are admitted.
You may be eligible if you:
- Have a Qualifying Hospital Stay: You must have had a prior acute hospital stay of at least three related consecutive inpatient midnights in a hospital within the last 30 days.
- Are Medically Stable: You are stable enough to leave acute care but still require skilled services.
- Need Daily Skilled Services: You require daily medical services that can only be safely and effectively administered by skilled personnel. This might include:
- Intensive Physical, Occupational, or Speech Therapy
- IV Antibiotic Therapy
- Complex Wound Care
Please note: Artesia General Hospital accepts Medicare and most commercial insurance plans, but out-of-state Medicaid is not accepted for this program.
Comprehensive Services for Post-Hospitalization Recovery with the Swing Bed Program
Our program provides the focused attention needed to help patients achieve their highest level of recovery following major events like a fracture, stroke, or severe infection.
Key services offered as part of your personalized care plan include:
- Intensive Rehabilitation: Patients receive frequent, dedicated sessions of Physical, Occupational, and/or Speech Therapy to restore mobility, daily living skills, and communication. If you need rehab after surgery in Artesia, Carlsbad or Roswell, our local program is a convenient choice.
- Specialized Nursing Care: This includes crucial services like advanced wound care management and the continuation of IV antibiotic therapy to clear ongoing infections.
“The most rewarding part of the Swing Bed Program is watching a frail patient gain confidence and return home. We coordinate nursing and therapy to ensure every patient receives the best clinical support. This teamwork ensures a safe transition back to your daily life.” — Michele Petersen, CNO at Artesia General Hospital
How Artesia General Hospital Can Help
We understand that coordinating care after a hospital stay can be challenging for both patients and family members. That’s why our process is designed for clarity and efficiency.
If you or a loved one are preparing for discharge from a hospital and need short-term skilled nursing care, talk to your current hospital’s discharge planner and request a referral to our specialized Swing Bed Program at Artesia General Hospital.
The swing bed program process is managed by our dedicated Case Management team, which specializes in navigating the requirements of transitional care unit placement. They will coordinate with your doctors, review your eligibility, and arrange a seamless transfer once approved.
For more information on eligibility and admissions, we encourage you to contact our dedicated Case Management team directly by calling 575-703-0274
Frequently asked Questions: Navigating Skilled Care in New Mexico
We’ve compiled answers to the most common questions our community asks about New Mexico Swing Bed programs and post-acute recovery at Artesia General Hospital.
- What is a swing bed program and how does it work?
- A swing bed program provides high-level, short-term skilled nursing care within a hospital setting. It allows a patient’s status to “swing” from acute care to skilled care, acting as a temporary hospital bridge to home for recovery and rehabilitation after a hospital stay.
- Are there swing bed programs specifically for rural hospitals?
- Yes. Medicare created the Swing Bed Program specifically for rural hospitals like Artesia General Hospital. This ensures patients in small towns and remote areas receive necessary skilled services without traveling long distances away from their families.
- How to qualify for a swing bed program in a hospital?
- To qualify, you must complete a related three-day consecutive inpatient stay within the last month. Crucially, your physician must determine you need daily skilled services (like physical therapy, IV therapy, or complex wound care) that require professional medical supervision.
- Swing bed program benefits covered by Medicare and Medicaid
- Medicaid coverage varies by state, but your eligibility and benefits are always verified by our dedicated Case Management team prior to admission.
- How to enroll in a swing bed program through a local hospital?
- The enrollment process starts with a referral. You (or your family) must inform your current hospital’s doctor or discharge planner that you wish to receive your post-hospitalization recovery at Artesia General Hospital. Our dedicated Case Management team then manages the assessment and transfer coordination.
- Which healthcare providers offer swing bed programs near me? What are the best swing bed program providers for post-acute care
- Artesia General Hospital provides premier short-term skilled nursing care to residents across Artesia, Carlsbad, and Roswell, New Mexico.By choosing a local hospital like AGH, you benefit from hospital-level safety, 24/7 physician access, and continuity of care close to your home and family support system. Contact our dedicated Case Management team at Artesia General Hospital today. Call us at 575.703.0274 for questions about eligibility, insurance, and transfers.
Take the Next Step in Your Recovery
Ready to learn more about accessing high-quality short-term skilled nursing New Mexico care close to home?
Contact our dedicated Case Management team at Artesia General Hospital today. Call us at 575.703.0274 for questions about eligibility, insurance, and transfers.