Leaders at Memorial Medical Center (MMC) are pleased to announce that the Transitional Care Unit (TCU) will be expanding. The only unit of its kind in the region, the TCU recently relocated to PC2 at MMC’s Lee Campus, which will allow the unit to gradually increase its census from 18 to 30 residents.
“We are very pleased with the move,” says Nancy Tyrrell, RN, MSN, MHA, Director, Long Term Care, MMC. “Right now we’re in the process of interviewing new staff members, but anticipate that we will be able to accept the full 30 residents by June 2010.”
The TCU provides care to those at all stages of illness or injury, including those who are recovering from major surgeries as well as joint replacements, fractures or other orthopedic conditions. Residents have recently spent three or more days in an acute care facility, such as Memorial, and are still in need of short-term skilled services as defined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). These services include: Physical, Occupational or Speech Therapy; IV Therapy; Cardio and Respiratory Management; and Pain Management.
“The TCU provides a very important part of the healing process for patients who are not serious enough to remain as an inpatient, but are still in need of specialized care and rehabilitation before returning home,” says Dr. David Carlson, CMO, Conemaugh Health System. “There is a strong need for this kind of unit in our region, and we’re proud to be the only facility in a four-county area to offer this crucial step-down level of care.”
While in the TCU, a team of caregivers, including social workers, immediately begin working with patients and their families to develop a realistic “discharge plan.” This plan includes long and short-term goals as well as any additional needs that a patient may have upon leaving the TCU. Patients’ families also receive progress updates twice a week. The TCU is regulated by the Department of Health division of long-term care and accepts Medicare patients only.
