In an impressive presentation, Allevant Solutions, LLC has disclosed valuable insights from a 10-year analysis of rural post-acute care patient outcomes, underscoring the role of collaboration between larger acute care hospitals and rural critical access hospitals (CAHs). This framework, referred to as Transitional Care by Allevant, leverages the federal 'swing bed' concept, which allows for versatile usage of hospital beds in the smaller healthcare settings post discharge from an acute facility.
The study compiles de-identified data reflecting patient outcomes from over 100 CAHs across 24 states. One of the fundamental challenges facing rural patients is finding high-quality care upon returning home after higher-level treatments. Allevant's findings assert that effective transitions to CAHs can greatly benefit both healthcare teams and patients alike.
Dr. Mark Lindsay, a pulmonologist at Mayo Clinic and medical director at Allevant Solutions, emphasizes the benefits of these partnerships, stating, "When acute care hospitals can discharge patients to CAHs for post-acute care, everyone wins." High capacity CAHs are equipped to provide essential hospital resources including lab and radiology services, with nurse staffing levels significantly higher than those found in skilled nursing facilities. This setup enables staff to manage acute condition changes effectively, underscoring the importance of local care and quicker recovery periods for patients and their families.
Allevant's data reveals lower return rates to acute hospital settings, indicating that patients receiving care in CAHs tend to experience improved outcomes. The insights shared from 2014 through 2024 present some compelling metrics:
- - Total swing bed days: 243,859
- - Total patients admitted: 17,760
- - Notably, the average length of stay for these patients is recorded at 13.9 days, which is almost half the length of stay in a Medicare Part A Skilled Nursing Facility (28 days).
- - Impressively, 76.9% of patients returning home previously lived in private residences or assisted living facilities.
Categorizing primary admissions, the data shows that 66% were for complex medical/surgical treatments, followed by orthopedic (19%) and other specialty cases like cardiac or neurological (9%). The discharge destination is noteworthy as well, with 68% of patients going back home and just 10% moving to skilled nursing facilities. This further illustrates the effectiveness of swing bed operations in facilitating patient recovery.
Patient satisfaction scores reflect excellent service, averaging 4.8 out of 5 in feedback about team care and discharge preparation, indicating a high level of contentment among patients treated under this transitional care model. Furthermore, a deep dive into the payer mix highlights that a significant portion (53.6%) of services provided were funded through Medicare Part A, emphasizing the financial viability of reliant models.
As Dr. Lindsay states, “Swing bed care remains one of the most underutilized, high-quality pathways in health care.” Allevant Solutions aims to change that narrative, asserting that the swing bed approach is ideally suited for patients recovering from complex conditions. The organization, backed by both Mayo Clinic and Select Medical, continues to promote its consulting services aimed at improving organizational culture and clinical education amongst rural hospitals and skilled nursing facilities.
For more information regarding Allevant's Transitional Care and insights into its swing bed program, visit their website at www.allevant.com. By nurturing these collaborations, Allevant Solutions is paving the path for improved healthcare access and outcomes in rural areas, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for patients needing post-acute care.