Transitional Care

Mille Lacs Health System’s Bridge of Care, “Swing Bed” or “transitional” care program, is an extended care option for patients who have recovered from an illness or injury but are not yet able to go home. It’s designed to meet each patient’s need for continued rehabilitation and recovery in a hospital setting.

To learn more, contact Mille Lacs Health System Discharge Planner: 320-532-2735; or the Director of Nursing: 320-532-2401; or after hours/weekends, call the Acute Care Charge Nurse: 320-532-2415.


Services Offered

Our multi-disciplinary team’s goal is to help patients return to their homes as soon as possible, either independently or with the help of other community resources.

Services include: 

  • Skilled nursing for IV or extended antibiotic infusions, wound care and post-surgery care.
     
  • Rehab services such as physical, speech, occupational or respiratory therapies. 
     
  • Nutritional support and counseling, insulin monitoring, and enteral feeding.

Admission Criteria

Admission criteria to transitional care is not necessarily based on diagnosis, but rather needs, which may be different for each patient, depending on:

  • Medical needs
  • Rehabilitative potential
  • Age
  • Complex medical conditions
  • Discharge pain
  • Other chronic illnesses

Your physician must determine the need. Under Medicare, you must have at least a 3-day consecutive overnight stay as an acute care (hospital) patient before transition.