BRIDGING THE GAP

Occasionally, patients are discharged from an acute care facility but they're not completely ready to transfer to a home setting. That's why Heritage House developed the Transitional Care Unit.

Located on the fifth floor of Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, the TCU provides residents with the skilled nursing and rehabilitative services they need before they transfer home or to another facility.

The 26-bed TCU is designed to provide care for residents who require restorative and rehabilitative care, with an expected stay of 10 to 14 days. Care plans for each resident are customized to meet their particular needs, and because of its location, each resident has access to the comprehensive health care services of Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

In addition, the TCU offers a host of entertaining activities such as arts and crafts, games, social activities and more.

Here are some more interesting facts about the TCU:

• Nursing care is provided by registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week.


• The TCU bridges the gap between a hospital stay and home or another facility; approximately 80 percent of the residents are discharged to home.


• The TCU provides skilled nursing and rehabilitative care primarily to older adults over the age of 65.


• Each resident's medical care is provided by his or her own attending physician. Physician visits occur less frequently in the TCU than in the hospital.


• The TCU is often called extended care or sub-acute care.


• The TCU is licensed and regulated as a skilled nursing facility; therefore, all documentation, policies and procedures comply with long-term care regulations and guidelines.


• An interdisciplinary team comprising individuals from different disciplines oversees the plan of care for each resident. Members include the attending physician; medical director; nursing home administrator; director of nursing/RN/LPN/NA; social workers; physical, occupational and speech
  therapists; dietician; pharmacist and others.

  For more information, please call 570-552-5400.