When Carol Jagow left RiverView Health’s swing bed program, she departed stronger, more independent, and feeling a little pampered, too.
Jagow, of Grand Forks, spent just over two weeks in RiverView’s swing bed program in May after being hospitalized following a fall. Although she did not suffer any broken bones, the fall left her too weak to safely return home.
Living with multiple sclerosis (MS) since 1983, Jagow knew she needed additional rehabilitation before resuming her daily routine.
That’s where RiverView’s swing bed program came in.
Swing Bed Care = One Step Closer to Home
Swing bed care is designed for patients who no longer require acute hospital care but are not yet ready to return home. Available to Medicare beneficiaries and some patients with private insurance, swing bed care provides the same level of care offered in a skilled nursing facility while allowing patients to continue their recovery in a hospital setting.
“Swing bed care helps bridge the gap between hospitalization and home,” explained Tori Wagner, Case Manager and Acute Care Coordinator at RiverView Health. “Our goal is to help patients regain strength, function, and independence so they can safely return home, often with fewer limitations and greater confidence.”
Wagner said RiverView has been focused on growing its swing bed program to better serve patients throughout the region while balancing the needs of medical, surgical, and obstetrical services at the Crookston hospital.
During a swing bed stay, patients continue to receive nursing care, medications, meals, housekeeping, laundry services, and other support while benefiting from a more relaxed schedule. Physician visits, lab work, and assessments are generally less frequent, allowing patients to focus on recovery and rehabilitation.
For Jagow, physical and occupational therapy were the primary focus of her stay.
“I went in weak. My legs were like noodles,” she stated. “I needed to build up my strength.”
Working with therapists from RiverView’s Rehab Services Department helped her steadily regain mobility and confidence.
However, recovery wasn’t all work.
One of the advantages of RiverView’s swing bed program is the flexibility and independence it offers patients. Swing bed patients may wear their own clothes, visit Holte’s Café on the lower level of the facility, browse the Limited Addition Gift Shop, spend time in the meditation room, and even take temporary leaves of absence to attend family events or enjoy a meal away from the hospital.
“That freedom allows patients to receive the support and therapy they need while maintaining a sense of normalcy,” Wagner said.
Jagow took advantage of several of those opportunities, including time spent in the gift shop, where helpful Auxiliary volunteers assisted her in finding the right fit for a ring that caught her eye.
She also enjoyed exploring RiverView’s modern facility, which opened in 2020 and features private patient rooms with bathrooms and showers, state-of-the-art amenities, and artwork created by area artists.
One of the most enjoyable moments of her stay came after she mentioned wanting to have her hair done. Before long, Wagner had arranged for a professional cosmetologist to visit. Along with her hair, Jagow also had her nails done in the comfort of her room.
From the Kitchen to the Inpatient Unit, the People Make the Difference
More than anything, however, it was the people who made the greatest impact on Jagow.
“I can’t say enough good things about the people who helped me during my stay,” she said. “From Tori, to my nurses, Sue and Liz, to the therapists, Allie, Olivia, and Maddie, they all went above and beyond. They were so hospitable. They had so many things for me to do. I was never bored and just sitting in my room. I had a good time with all of them.”
And, then, there was the food.
For anyone who believes hospital food has a bad reputation, Jagow disagrees.
“The food was wonderful,” she said of the meals prepared by New Horizon Foods staff. “I had to be careful because I could just sit there all day and eat and eat because it was so good.”
She was equally appreciative of the dining staff’s attentiveness.
“With MS, there are many things that are hard for me to do,” she said. “They were so kind. They opened my cartons, took the lids off my coffee and added sugar, cut my meat, and always made sure I was happy before they left the room.”
Today, Jagow continues to make progress at home, following the exercise program developed by her RiverView therapist and steadily gaining strength.
Looking back, she says the experience exceeded her expectations.
“I didn’t know what to expect when I went in,” Jagow said. “But now I can say that I definitely recommend RiverView. Everyone was so kind and really cared and wanted the best for me.”
For more information about RiverView Health’s swing bed program, call 218-281-9323.
