Medical-Surgical Unit (MSU)
Inpatient hospital care centered around you.
When you are a patient in the hospital, Gritman’s physicians, nurses and staff work together as a team. You are an important part of that team, and we focus on your needs in every decision.
At every shift change or transfer of care, your nurses meet with you to share information about your care, medications, diet and address any concerns you might have.
Highly-Skilled Staff
Our integrated team approach includes not only our nursing staff, physicians and technicians, but also specialized therapists, dietitians and case managers, as appropriate for each patient’s recovery.
All MSU nurses hold certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support. Our certified nursing assistants and registered nurses are certified in Basic Life Support and Crisis Prevention Intervention. Our entire nursing staff completes annual continuing education courses. Many of our nurses pursue and achieve additional department-specific certifications.
Hospitalists
Hospitalists are physicians specializing in the care of patients admitted to the hospital. Most are board-certified internal medicine physicians who have undergone extensive training, including medical school, residency, and board certification examination. Our team of full-time hospitalists is dedicated to providing our patients with the highest levels of care during their stay at Gritman Medical Center.
Our hospitalists have expertise in caring for both routine and complicated hospitalized patients. At least one member is on-site and available 24 hours a day to work closely with your primary care physician and specialists to provide the highest standards of care.
A swing bed is a space that can “swing” from acute hospital care to skilled nursing care so a patient can remain in the same facility for continued medical care or short term rehabilitative care instead of transferring from the hospital to another skilled nursing facility. Gritman Medical Center is a Critical Access Hospital that is credentialed to provide Swing Bed Skilled Nursing level care as regulated by CMS, state and federal guidelines.
Commonly asked questions
What is swing bed care?
Our Swing Bed Program is a level of care similar to a Rehab Facility for patients ready to leave the hospital setting, but not yet ready to be home. Swing bed care is available for patients who need a few more days or weeks following a surgery or additional daily medical care before going back home or to another setting. Even if the original hospitalization occurred elsewhere, patients may still qualify for our program at Gritman Medical Center.
What services are provided with swing bed care?
- Skilled Nursing
- Care Management and Social Services
- Physical Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Speech/Language Pathology
- Respiratory Therapy
- Recreational Activity Time
- Dietary Consultation
- Pharmacy Services
- Laboratory and Diagnostic Imaging
- Pastoral Care
What kind of insurance coverage does Swing Bed require?
Swing Bed is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and many private and commercial insurances. Gritman Case Management can discuss your specific coverage and how it would apply to swing care.
Can I still receive swing bed care if I’m not currently a patient at Gritman Medical Center?
Yes! Patients who are currently at another higher level of care can transition to Gritman’s Swing Bed Program if they meet admission criteria and are appropriate for this level of care. You, or your Discharge Planner if you are in another facility, can contact Case Management to discuss your care needs and transfer options. Contact case@gritman.org or 208-883-6355.
Visitors
We encourage visitors and companionship, which are proven to aid healing. However, we may limit visitation depending on a patient’s condition. We encourage family members to update friends and relatives on the patient’s condition and needs via CaringBridge.org.
Visiting hours are 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but may be limited at the staff’s discretion. Visitors entering the hospital after 9 p.m. must use the call button to enter through the doors to the Emergency Department admitting desk.
Rapid Response Team
If anyone—patient, visitor or staff—experiences a dramatic change in health, including these symptoms:
- Changes in heart rate
- Difficulty breathing
- Drop in blood pressure
- Confusion, agitation or other changes in mental or emotional state
Anyone at the hospital, including visitors, can call an Emergency Rapid Response by dialing “0” on any house phone. Please clearly say “Rapid Response” and your location or room number, which is posted in all patient rooms. Our Rapid Response Team will immediately respond to help.
