Skilled Nursing Care
“Skilled nursing” is post-hospitalization care for patients who require some ongoing rehabilitation services. At Franklin General Hospital, skilled nursing patients are cared for in the Medical Surgical wing of the hospital by its staff of health care professionals.
Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance all have their own guidelines regarding skilled nursing care. This makes it important to define a patient’s needs and make sure they are receiving the appropriate level of care to qualify for the appropriate coverage.
Medicare’s Qualifications for Admission to Skilled Nursing Care
- Three-day (consecutive) stay on acute level of care within past 30 days
- Physician referral for necessary daily skilled service related to hospitalization
- Medicare Part A (Hospital) Benefit
Medicare’s Criteria for Skilled Nursing Care
- IV medications or medications requiring monitoring by professional staff
- Frequent nasopharyngeal or tracheostomy suctioning by licensed professional staff
- Wound management/sterile dressing changes
- Qualifying bowel and bladder care
- Respiratory therapy for qualifying procedures
- Need for inpatient therapies, i.e., physical, occupational, or speech therapy
- Feeding per nasogastric/gastrostomy tube
- Nursing rehabilitation required for qualifying daily care
For information about skilled care at Franklin General Hospital, call one of the following:
Stephanie Powers, RN
641.456.5007
Michelle Hill, RN
641.456.5003