In these days of limitations on hospital stays, Ellenville Regional Hospital is especially proud to provide a unique service which will makes it possible for Ellenville area patients to recover closer to their homes.

A transitional care unit called "the Swing Bed Program" is available to patients who have been hospitalized for three days or more as an acute admission, require services on a daily basis, as well as the supervision of professional or technical personnel.

Consider the Ellenville, or Cragsmoor, or Kerhonkson, resident who has had major surgery at a larger hospital many miles from home. After three or more days of hospital recovery, the patient is discharged. Now what? Perhaps there is no one at home to help this person, or the person needs professional care, or requires daily wound care, or has serious concerns about the level of skilled nursing care that will be available. One of the options might be a nursing home, even more miles from home.

A much better alternative may be a transfer to Ellenville Regional Hospital's Swing Bed Unit. The Swing Bed Unit will help the patient make the transition from the acute care stage, either at Ellenville or another hospital, to recovery at home. It is ideal for the patient who isn't quite ready to be at home, especially alone, but wants to be closer to home, family, and friends.

Some of the Transitional Care services available under this new program are skilled nursing care, nutritional therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and case management. Speech therapy, respiratory therapy, and activities services are also part of the program.

Swing Bed services are designed for the person who is recovering from major surgery, has experienced repeated hospitalizations, is recovering from a stroke or a major accident, needs help with pain management, requires wound or amputation care, is coping with congestive heart failure, or has resolving conditions that require a little more time.

For more information about general hospital services, or the new transitional care services at Ellenville Regional Hospital, call 647-6400, ext. 238.