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
We recently added a new director, Dr. Ellenmarie Brown to our hospitalist team. She is board certified in internal medicine and most recently served as a hospitalist at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia.
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.
Rehabilitation (Swing Bed) Care
Qualifying patients may be offered swing beds for a longer stay at the hospital, receiving exceptional, patient-centered care. Having a few extra days before discharge gives you and your family more time to adapt to a new care plan and keep you as safe and healthy as possible. With pain management and an expert staff of therapists and nurses, our swing bed services lower the chance of another hospital stay.
Patient commissions artist to express her thanks
Going home was not the best option for Cheryl Stenzel following her recent knee surgery performed by longtime orthopedic surgeon and Gritman board member Dr. Charles Jacobson here at Gritman.
Did you or a loved one have an amazing experience at Gritman? Share your story!
Commonly asked questions
What is swing bed care?
Sometimes during a hospital stay, a patient reaches a point in their recovery where acute care is no longer necessary, but they may not be ready to leave the hospital. Swing bed care is available for patients who need only a few more days or weeks in order to improve recovery. Even if the original hospitalization occurred elsewhere, patients may still qualify for our program at Gritman Medical Center.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) permit certain small rural hospitals to use its beds as needed, either for acute care or skilled care, hence the term “swing bed,” as physicians may “swing” patients from one level of care to another while staying in the same facility.
Gritman is certified by CMS to offer short-term, skilled medical and physical rehabilitation care program for patients in transition between acute care and home care, or another lower level of care facility.
What services are provided with swing bed care?
- Specialized wound care
- Physical therapy seven days a week
- Occupational and speech therapy
- 24-hour registered nurses and nurse aides
- Respiratory therapy
- In-house pharmacy
- In-house dietitian
- IV antibiotics
- Room service
- Laboratory
- Diagnostic imaging
- Low patient to nurse ratio
- On-site physician availability
- Activities program
- Discharge planning
How do I qualify for swing bed care?
Medicare will cover swing bed care if you:
- Are covered by Medicare Part A and have days left in your benefit period
- Have a qualifying hospital acute care stay of three consecutive days
- Need skilled nursing or therapy care on a daily basis
Are swing bed services covered by private insurance?
Many private insurance companies cover swing bed care. Gritman Medical Center case managers can help you get answers about your insurance reimbursement for the swing bed program.
What does Medicare cover?
As long as the Medicare criteria is met, up to 100 days will be covered. The first 20 days of your stay are covered in full. Any subsequent, consecutive days are covered at 80 percent. If you have supplemental insurance policies, the additional 20 percent may be covered.
I have been approved for swing bed care. What do I do next?
Care Management will work with your current hospital to transition you to swing bed care. Please see the packing list below to ensure you have all the items needed for a comfortable stay.
What should I pack?
Please label and bring the following items:
- Loose fitting clothing suitable for therapy. We encourage you get dressed every day
- Pajamas if you prefer; patient gowns are provided.
- Comfortable shoes for exercise.
- Your preferred grooming and bathing items such as toothpaste, toothbrush, shaving cream and shampoo. We can provide these items if necessary.
- Personal items, such as eyeglasses, dentures, hearing aids, etc.
- Special equipment, such as a cane, walker, prosthesis, etc.
- Items for your enjoyment, such as books, crochet, adult coloring, etc.
- Copies of your Advance Directives, Living Will, Power of Attorney and POST forms.
- Insurance cards
Can I still receive swing bed care if I’m not currently a patient at Gritman Medical Center?
Absolutely. You may choose Gritman for continued recovery to be closer to family and friends.
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.
