Swing bed program in a small rural hospital: discharge outcome.

Swing beds contribute significantly to inpatient rehabilitation and skilled nursing care of the rural elderly, but little information is available in the general clinical literature regarding the types and outcomes of patients admitted to these programs. All swing bed admissions to a small rural hospital for the 1989 fiscal year were identified and the records were reviewed. The mean age of the patients was 81 years, and the average length of stay was 13 days. Most patients were admitted because of acute problems necessitating short-term rehabilitation or because no bed was available in an appropriate skilled-care nursing home. At discharge, 40% of patients were able to return home. Information regarding the availability and appropriate use of swing beds needs to be disseminated to physicians who care for the elderly. More study is needed to determine optimal use of and requirements for swing beds on a national level.