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The Transitional Care Center When you're not quite ready for home...Transitional Care may be the answer for you. For some people, leaving the hospital can be a mixed blessing. Some patients do not feel strong enough to return home. They need additional time to recover from illness or injury and to receive the rehabilitation therapy they need to return to good health. Now patients who need this type of care can get it at the Transitional Care Center at Heywood Hospital. The Transitional Care Center is a skilled nursing facility located on the second floor of the hospital. The Center focuses on helping patients regain their strength and mobility. Most patients stay a two-week period or less. Among the patients who benefit from the Center are those recovering from stroke, orthopedic, cardiac, or general surgery, cancer, neurological disorders and heart, respiratory and kidney conditions. Transitional Care Center patients are "residents" who are cared for by their own doctors with assistance from a licensed nursing staff and teams of physical, occupational, recreational, respiratory and speech therapists. The Center provides a home-like atmosphere, where residents can practice taking their own medications, using artificial limbs, walkers or wheelchairs, and operating medical equipment. Patients leave our care fully familiarized with their condition and how to care for themselves at home. TCC-Commonly Asked Questions The following are some commonly asked questions regarding the Transitional Care Center. Please note that your physician is an important source of information regarding your illness or injury, and whether you may qualify for admission to the Center. However, the staff here are happy to answer any questions and to discuss your case with you, with family members and your physician upon your request. Will my insurance pay for care? Will my doctor be able to care for me in the Center, or will I have a new doctor? What types of professional services does the the Center provide? How long can I stay at the Center? What arrangements must I make I make in order to be admitted to the Transitional Care Center? Q. Will my insurance pay for care? A. If you have had a three-day qualifying hospital stay within the past 30 days, and you meet the Medicare guidelines for skilled nursing care, Medicare will pay for your care for the first 20 days. After the 20th day, there is a co-payment for which you will be responsible. If you have an HMO or other type of insurance, you must meet their requirements. The social worker and a nurse from the Transitional Care Center (the Center) will discuss your needs with your doctor to determine if your care meets the skilled nursing care requirements. For more information call the Transitional Care Center at (978) 630-6126. Q. Will my doctor be able to care for me in the Center, or will I have a new doctor? A. Assuming your doctor is a member of the Heywood Medical Staff, he or she will be able to care for you while you are in the Center. Some physicians may prefer to transfer such care to another physician. If you need choose another doctor, you may elect to be cared for by the TCC Medical Director, Dr. John Harrington, or you may choose another qualified doctor on the staff of Heywood Hospital. The staff will provide provide a list of physicians who are qualified and who have agreed to accept such referrals. For more information call the Transitional Care Center at (978) 630-6126. Q. What types of professional services does the the Center provide? A. The Center can provide intensive physical, occupational and speech therapy, wound management, pain management, intravenous therapy, cardiac rehab, respiratory therapy and recreational therapy - all of which will be provided by highly qualified professionals. For more information call the Transitional Care Center at (978) 630-6126. Q. How long can I stay at the Center? A. The care that you require must continue to meet skilled care guidelines as determined by medicare or your health care plan. In general, people will stay anywhere from a few days up to approximately 30 days, depending on the care which they need. For more information call the Transitional Care Center at (978) 630-6126. A. We suggest that you have your family bring some loose-fitting street clothes from home for you to wear. Many people find that jogging-type outfits or slacks with elastic waist bands are comfortable and easy to move around in during rehabilitation therapy. For more information call the Transitional Care Center at (978) 630-6126. Q. What arrangements must I make I make in order to be admitted to the Transitional Care Center? A. The Social Service Department will help you with the arrangements. You may wish to have our social worker talk with your family about any items you may need from home. If you are a patient in another hospital, the discharge planner at the hospital will make arrangements with the Center. For more information call the Transitional Care Center at (978) 630-6126. A. Each room is warmly decorated and has either one or two beds, nightstands, bureaus, chairs and closets. All are equipped with a television and a telephone. Each room has a bathroom consisting of a toilet and a sink. Showers and a whirlpool are located elsewhere on the unit. For more information call the Transitional Care Center at (978) 630-6126. A. Yes. The Center has a dining room where you will be served three meals per day. In addition, there is a nourishment kitchen where you can have snacks. For more information call the Transitional Care Center at (978) 630-6126. |