Two rural hospitals' projects apply swing bed concept successfully.
Alternating beds between acute and long term care may save rural hospitals from unnecessary closing and alter the balance of services to meet demand. The swing bed concept--subject of two experimental programs in Utah, Texas, South Dakota, and Iowa--may be applicable nationwide.
D001513:Beds / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006289:Health Planning Support / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006752:Hospital Planning / Q000191:economics*; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007484:Iowa; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000191:economics*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012424:Rural Population; D013023:South Dakota; D013781:Texas; D014589:Utah