Transitional Care Unit

The Transitional Care Unit (TCU), located on the third floor of MDH, is a 16-bed short-term skilled nursing facility with semi-private rooms, where patients are considered when they are no longer in need of acute care, but not ready to return home. A typical stay in the TCU is usually a week to ten days as long as the patient meets care criteria.

In order to be eligible for TCU, a patient must meet qualifications established by Medicare. If the patient meets the criteria for TCU, many services are offered, including therapy, care plan meetings, activities, and much more.

Qualifications

Some of the most common qualifiers for admission include the following:

· IV antibiotics

· Dressing changes

· Feeding tube

· Ostomy teaching

· New diabetic teaching

· Physical/Occupational/Speech Therapy

· Daily medication changes

Day Room Activities

The TCU has a day room for dining and activities that is available to all patients and their families. Patients are encouraged to eat meals in the dining room, play with puzzles and board games, practice on the piano, use the computer, watch the big-screen plasma television, and exercise with the Wii Nintendo game system to keep their range of motion. Patients are encouraged to wear their own clothing in preparation of a normal routine at home.

Care Plan Meetings

Every week, there is a care plan meeting where staff members including nurses, therapists, dietitians, and social workers, come together to discuss a patient’s progress and recommendations. Patients and their family are welcome to attend this meeting.

Medicare Coverage

To qualify for TCU under Medicare, a patient must have three consecutive overnight stays in Acute Care, not including 23-hour observation status. If the patient was hospitalized within the past 30 days, they may not need another three-day stay. Medicare allows for 20 days of 100% coverage for TCU or another skilled facility. At day 21, Medicare covers all but a portion (the rate changes yearly) as long as patient still has qualifiers. If the patient has supplemental insurance, the remaining cost is usually covered but staff will be happy to verify with the specific insurance carrier.

For more information about these services, contact the Transitional Care Unit, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, at (309)833-4101.