Northwestern Medicine Homeward Healing Program celebrates fifth anniversary
Swing Bed program offers skilled inpatient nursing care as patients transition from acute care to home
Northwestern Medicine Valley West Hospital in Sandwich is celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Homeward Healing Swing Bed Program. Former patients, staff and leadership gathered to thank the caregivers. Several awards were presented to staff members who helped develop the program and have made it a success.
Swing-bed programs are unique to rural healthcare settings and critical access hospitals. The inpatient program is for people who need short-term, skilled healthcare services after an acute stay in the hospital. Instead of going directly home or to a skilled nursing facility, patients remain at or can be transferred to Northwestern Medicine Valley West Hospital for additional care that is not easily provided in the home.
For example, a patient with a hip replacement may not need to stay in acute care beyond a few days but needs more physical therapy before going home. Instead of moving the patient to a skilled nursing facility, patients are cared for in the Swing Bed program. Services include physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapy; wound care management; nutritional therapy and IV antibiotic therapy that does not qualify for home care.
“In rural settings, access to care can be difficult,” said Ashley Brown, BSN, RN, CMSRN, patient care manager at Northwestern Medicine Valley West Hospital. “Because care is provided by hospital staff, studies have shown the average length of stay for patients in swing beds is about half than that of stand-alone skilled nursing facilities.”
Patients in Valley West’s program are discharged from swing beds on average in approximately 10 days, while those in skilled nursing facilities stay for an average of 26 days. Patients in swing bed programs are also much less likely to get readmitted to acute inpatient care. Valley West’s readmission rates are 12% compared to 24% for patients in skilled nursing facilities.
Susan White, of Sandwich, has been a patient twice. The first time after a surgery and the second after a heart attack. She received her acute care at other hospitals and was transferred to Valley West Hospital for the Homeward Healing program.
“I wanted to come here because it was close to home. My daughter, sister and friends were able to easily visit me,” said White. “The care was excellent. The nurses and staff are so nice and work so hard to make sure you are getting better. Everything was so well coordinated.”
According to the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN), in rural communities, hospital-based swing beds are vital in keeping services close to home, as well as helping ensure coordinated care for rural Medicare beneficiaries.
Several staff members were honored during the celebrations including:
· Visionary Leadership – Melissa Lecuyer, MSN, RN, NE-BC
· Commitment – Kathryn Wasson, PT; Taylor Koegel, OT; Susan McKay, OT; Tracey Jimenez, RN; and Melissa Walsh, RN
· Compassion – Alyssa Combes, patient safety technician, and Nicole Nelson, patient safety technician
· Care Coordination - Cheri Johnson, ACM-RN; and Colleen Emanuel, MSN, CCM-RN
“Our program is unique because clinical nurses are involved in reviewing admissions based on specific criterial. The interprofessional team cares for the patients”” said Kim Czaruk, MSN RN, director of operations and associate chief nurse executive. “However, it is our compassionate staff that truly make our Homeward Healing program special. Our patients love them.”
To learn more about Northwestern Medicine, visit nm.org.
