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Toms River, N.J. – Community Medical Center has opened a 17-bed inpatient transitional care unit (TCU) for patients who no longer need acute hospital care, but are not yet ready to be discharged home.
The TCU is located on the fourth floor of the hospital, located at 99 Highway 37 West in Toms River, and is licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. Patients are admitted to the TCU from an acute unit of the hospital for continued care at a less intensive level. The healing environment of a TCU helps make the transition home an easier one.
Nancy L. Wollen, executive director of Community Medical Center, said, “A transitional care unit offers a special caring environment for patients who no longer require all the resources of an acute hospital, but who are still too sick to be cared for at home. The goal of this unit is to admit patients who need a little extra care to avoid admission to a nursing home.”
She added, “The opportunity to treat our patients at a lesser level of skilled care provides our patients with a new option in their continuum of care.”
Community’s TCU is managed in partnership with Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Toms River. A licensed nursing home administrator and medical director; director of nursing; data collection clerk and a therapeutic recreation professional from Healthsouth work with Community Medical Center staff to manage this unit.
“The administrator and director of nursing from Healthsouth have extensive experience in long-term care regulations and standards, which are different from acute care regulations. We are delighted to develop this cooperative arrangement and look forward to working with the staff from Healthsouth,” Wollen said.
Typically, patients are admitted to a TCU for the following types of care: cardiac recovery, post surgical recovery, oncology and pain management, pulmonary management, skin and wound care, and complex medical management. Patients may stay on the TCU for up to eight days.
The nursing staff of Community Medical Center’s TCU work together with licensed physical and occupational therapists, other healthcare professionals and physicians to restore patients’ independence and self-sufficiency.
Wollen said, “A few extra days for recovery and recuperation in a TCU can give the patient just the time and care they need to regain strength and function needed to successfully be discharged home.”
A patient is admitted to the TCU only through their physician’s orders.
Community Medical Center’s TCU is the eighth unit of its type in New Jersey.
Community Medical Center (CMC) is an affiliate of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System, the largest integrated health care delivery system in New Jersey, with nine acute care hospitals, nine nursing homes, five ambulatory care facilities, three geriatric centers, three assisted living residencies, a freestanding 100-bed inpatient psychiatric facility and a statewide behavioral health network. Located in Toms River, Community is a fully accredited, acute-care 596-bed facility offering the most advanced, ultra-modern diagnostic and treatment services, including emergency and urgent care, laser and arthroscopic surgery, maternity and a Level II special care nursery and pediatrics unit. CMC offers the Community Regional Cancer Center, affiliated with the renowned Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia; state-of-the-art Radiation Oncology; a Renal Dialysis Center; a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, as well as general medical and health care services to the residents of Ocean County; and the Center for Kids and Family with sites located in Toms River and Lacey, and the Lighthouse, a Center for Senior Health with locations in Toms River, Whiting and Lacey. Community Medical Center has been awarded the esteemed Magnet Status for Nursing Excellence from the American Nurses Association's Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Date: February 2, 2005
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