The Transitional Care
Unit may be the next appropriate step in your care…
Our staff helps patients transition to home so they may live
independently or with some assistance.
While in our care we strive to:
- Maximize functioning and independence
- Provide patient and family education
- Assess and facilitate discharge needs
- Identify community resources that can help
- Make referrals to outpatient services
The Transitional Care Unit (TCU) at Community Medical Center
offers a special caring environment for patients who no longer
require all the resources of an acute care hospital, but who are
still too sick to be cared for at home.
The TCU provides a sub-acute level of care within the acute care
hospital, an option in the continuum of care. Typically patients are
admitted to the 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. A few extra days for recovery in the TCU can
give patients just the time they need to regain strength and
function needed to successfully be discharged home. Patients may
stay in the TCU for up to eight days of care.
Our Approach
Community Medical Center strives to meet the growing needs of the
greater Toms River area by offering diversified services. The TCU
was opened to assist patients who have a continued need for health
care management but have passed their acute illness.
An
interdisciplinary team approach is followed with the
physician, nurse, social worker, rehabilitation therapists,
dietician, and resident’s family participating. The expected length
of stay is less than eight days, with a discharge goal for the
patient to return to home.
The TCU at Community Medical Center is a 17-bed unit located on
the fourth floor of the Medical Center offering private and
semi-private rooms. The unit offers physical therapy, occupational
therapy, respiratory therapy and speech therapy, along with all the
other services of the hospital including:
- Diagnostic radiology
- Laboratory
- Pharmacy
- Pastoral Care
- Recreation
- Social Work
- Pet Therapy
- Dietary Counseling
- Diabetes Education
- Ostomy Education
- Wound Care
- Congestive Heart Failure Program
Candidates for the TCU must meet established criteria. Physicians
from Community Medical Center may admit directly to the TCU and are
then able to visit their patients daily on the premises. If you have
questions about whether admission to the TCU is appropriate for you
or a family member, please discuss further with your primary
care
physician.
- Patients must have had a three day length of stay in an acute
care hospital within 30 days prior to admission.
- The length of stay on the TCU is estimated to be eight days or
less.
- There is a discharge plan in place.
- No intensive diagnostic or invasive procedures or results are
pending.
- Patient is not currently a resident of a long term care
facility (unless it is documented that no bed is available in that
particular facility).
- An acceptable admitting diagnosis is documented in the medical
record.
For further information, please call:
Juquel Kinchen, RN
Director of Patient Care
Transitional
Care Unit
(732) 557-2442
The Transitional Care Unit accepts Medicare, HMO and private
insurance.
For a copy of the brochure in pdf, click
here.
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