Transitional Care Unit

Great River Medical Center’s Transitional Care Unit is an extended-care unit of the hospital. Patients whose conditions are stable may be transferred to the unit after they are dismissed from an acute-care unit. These patients no longer require acute care yet still need the support of the hospital environment and skilled caregivers. The unit gives patients all the services and care they need combined with an emphasis on restorative and rehabilitation care.

Nursing Care

The unit’s skilled caregivers believe that a health-care facility must offer more than just health-care services. Our goal is to restore you to good health by helping you recover from your surgical procedure, illness or injury. We will serve your physical, mental and spiritual needs. Registered nurses are responsible for your care 24 hours a day while you are with us. Our nurses are skilled professionals trained to provide specialized care for all your needs.

Although your physician may not visit you every day, our health-care team will keep your physician well informed of your condition. Your health-care team will work with you to restore you to the highest level of health possible.

Physician-ordered Therapy

All services and treatments ordered by your physician will be continued while you are on the unit. The health-care team will coordinate all services to help you reach your health-related goals. These services may include:

•	Occupational Therapy -- Occupational therapists facilitate the recovery of daily living and working skills. Therapists help patients perform treatment programs in self-care, dressing, eating, homemaking, safety, muscle strengthening and coordination.
•	Physical Therapy – Physical therapists are trained to help patients make maximum use of their physical abilities. Physical therapists work to improve your mobility.
•	Recreational Therapy – Recreational therapists use a variety of activities and tasks to meet patients’ social, emotional and physical needs and personal interests. Recreation specialists emphasize the importance of leisure to help maintain a healthy lifestyle after illness or injury.
•	Restorative Care -- The health-care team helps patients practice restorative activities designed to help them achieve their highest level of function and mobility.
•	Speech/Language Pathology -- Speech/language pathologists help patients develop the communication skills needed to return to independence. Due to a stroke, surgery or injury, patients may need help to regain speaking, understanding, reading or writing skills. Speech/language pathologists also evaluate and prescribe treatment programs to promote the patient’s return to a normal diet.

Available Services

The following are common services available to patients on the Transitional Care Unit. Patients may not have a need for all of the listed services, and other unlisted patient-care services are available as needed. If you have a question about any service not listed in this brochure, please talk to your nurse or the unit’s director.

Social Work

Soon after admission, a social worker will visit you and your family to help with concerns you may have associated with your injury, illness or hospitalization. Social workers can provide information about community resources. They also will help identify discharge needs based on recommendations of the health-care team and will coordinate arrangements for appropriate services. When you are ready to go home, a morning dismissal from the unit will be arranged whenever possible.

Insurance Coverage

Medicare covers a major portion of the unit’s charges. Some Medicare supplemental insurance policies, including Blue Cross, pick up the balance not covered by Medicare. You may want to contact you insurance carrier to see if your plan will cover this amount. A social worker can help you with this. Many private insurance policies for non-Medicare recipients provide coverage. If you have questions about any of these issues, please contact a social worker.

Pastoral Care

A chaplain is available to help patients and their families use the resources of their faith when dealing with life-changing conditions. A chaplain is available 24 hours a day.

Psychological Services

Psychological services are available by physician request to all patients on the unit. Services may include cognitive assessment to determine any recent changes in mental status relating to language, attention, memory, visual spatial skills or abstract reasoning. Patients also may be seen for individual therapy to deal with depression, stress and pain.

Dining Room

Patients have the option to eat in the unit’s dining room. This activity provides patients with the opportunity to practice dining skills while sharing a meal with others in the unit.

Nutritional Services

An experienced and dedicated nutritional-services staff provides attractive and nutritious meals. A licensed dietitian is available for individual counseling.

Beautician Services

Beautician services are available on the unit by appointment only. Appointments must be made in advance at the unit’s desk. Permanent waves cannot be done. You must pay for the services at the time you receive them. The services offered are:

•	Haircut (male and female)
•	Shampoo and blow dry
•	Shampoo with roller set

Working With You Toward Your Good Health

If you have any questions or concerns during your stay on the Transitional Care Unit, please talk to your nurse or the unit’s director. Staff at the unit’s desk can contact the unit director for you.