Caring for Our Community — Recovering Strong with Swing Bed Care Close to Home

Recovery doesn’t always end when a hospital stay is over. For many patients, healing continues long after surgery, illness, or injury—and having the right support during that transition can make all the difference. At Doctors Memorial Hospital, the Swing Bed Program is designed to help patients regain strength, confidence, and independence while remaining close to home and the people they love.

A swing bed program allows patients to continue receiving skilled care after their acute hospital stay, without needing to transfer far away from family and friends. This level of care is ideal for individuals who may not be ready to safely return home but no longer require intensive hospital treatment.

Patients in the Swing Bed Program often benefit from services such as:

Physical therapy to improve strength, mobility, and balance
Medication management and skilled nursing care
Recovery support after surgery, illness, injury, or extended hospitalization
Assistance with daily activities while rebuilding confidence before returning home

Swing bed care is often beneficial after surgeries such as joint replacements or other procedures where additional rehabilitation and strengthening may be needed before returning home safely. Receiving that continued care locally allows patients to stay near family, friends, and their support system throughout recovery.

At Doctors Memorial Hospital, the focus is not only on helping patients heal physically, but also on supporting emotional well-being and encouraging confidence throughout the recovery process. Every patient care plan is tailored to their individual needs and goals, helping them work toward a safer and stronger return home.

Doctors Memorial Hospital accepts Medicare for qualifying swing bed patients. Traditional Medicare patients require a qualifying three-day inpatient hospital stay prior to admission to the swing bed program. Patients with Medicare managed care plans may require prior authorization, depending on their individual insurance coverage.

For many families, swing bed care provides peace of mind knowing their loved one is receiving continued attention, therapy, and monitoring without the stress of traveling long distances for care.

At DMH, we are proud to provide services that allow members of our community to receive quality care close to home. Because healing is more than recovery, it’s about helping patients return to the moments and people that matter most.

Patients are evaluated through the hospital’s Utilization Review process to help ensure they receive the most appropriate level of care for their recovery needs. For more information about swing bed services at Doctors Memorial Hospital, please contact Barbara at 850-547-8132. We welcome community feedback and invite questions or topic suggestions for future updates at info@doctorsmemorial.org. Organizations interested in hosting healthcare lunch-and-learn discussions are encouraged to reach out.

People You Know, Caring for People You Love.