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Swing Bed

Skilled Care For When You Aren't Quite Ready To Go Home After Surgery Or An Illness.

St. Vincent Health Swing Bed offers the same services as a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF), except in a small community hospital where you receive extremely personalized care & attention. All rooms at St. Vincent Health are spacious and private and have a view of the two highest mountains in Colorado – Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive.

Length of stays range from a few days to a few weeks, with the ultimate goal to regain strength and independence to return home.

A hospital room with a bed, chairs, and a view out the window.
St. VIncent Health with large windows, surrounded by trees under a clear sky, labeled "St. Vincent Health."
Mountain range at sunset with orange light on peaks and cloudy sky.
Common Situations Where A Stay In A Swing Bed May Be Appropriate: 
  • You had a knee, hip, or shoulder replacement or another kind of orthopedic surgery
  • You require frequent IV infusions
  • You require frequent dressing changes or wound vac therapy
  • You had an acute episode of CHF, COPD, UTI, pneumonia, or other medical condition
How Do I Pay For Swing Bed? 
  • Medicare: Swing bed is a Part A Medicare benefit. Three nights in inpatient status in a hospital is required before transfer to Swing bed status. However, no prior authorization is needed.
  • Medicare Advantage: Swing bed is a Part A Medicare benefit. With an Advantage plan, prior authorization will be required but 3 inpatient midnights often are not.
  • Medicaid: St. Vincent Health does not accept Medicaid for Swing Bed.
  • Private insurances: Many private insurances will cover Swing Bed as part of Skilled Nursing Facility coverage, but may require prior authorization.
  • Private pay: contact our Case Manager for more information.
Services Offered As Part Of An Individualized Care Plan: 
  • Physical and Occupational Therapy
  • Speech Therapy
  • Recreational Therapy
  • IV therapy for antibiotics, pain medications, and more
  • Wound Care
  • Registered Dietician assessment
  • In-house pharmacy
  • In-house radiology and laboratory
  • Social and discharge planning
  • 24/7 on-site MD or Physician Assistant
  • 24/7 care by experienced Registered Nurses. It is not unusual to have a nurse to patient ratio of 1:1 or 1:2.
  • Weekly Care Meetings that engage you and your support network, to help you reach your goals
A person standing by a wooden cart with Wild West-themed decor, including an American flag and animal skulls.
Penny Bartlett in front of her shop in rural Colorado.

“It was so nice to be in Leadville because you have clean mountain air up there, it’s quiet and peaceful, you have all those beautiful views of mountains. I mean, how much better of a place can you rehab?!”

Penny Bartlett

 

 

 

 

 

One former patient and 4 clinical staff posing for a photo in front of the lobby fireplace at St. Vincent Health.
Brad Smith and members of the care team. 

 “The staff could not have been kinder or more attentive. There was never a time that we did not feel that he was receiving the best possible care."

                                         Brad & Diane Smith