Our staff of rehabilitation specialists also provide inpatient physical,
occupational, speech-language pathology and recreational therapy services for
the first of five Transitional Care Units approved by and opened in New York
State as part of a three-year demonstration project.
The Transitional Care Unit (TCU) is a 20-bed, Medicare-certified, skilled
nursing unit for patients who have progressed beyond hospital care, but who
still require 24-hour supervision for a short period of time before returning
home. The unit cares for patients who require IVs, tube feeding, daily
injections and therapies, sterile dressing changes, nutritional assessments or
skilled medical observation.
Our patients enter the TCU following discharge from one of United Health
Services Hospital’s acute care units. TCU patients may be recovering from
surgery, a recent acute disease process, or an illness or accident that required
a hospital stay. For most patients, an extra week or two in the TCU is all
they need before they can be discharged. Thus, the unit eases a patient’s
transition from hospital to home.
Our unit staff consists of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses,
certified nursing assistantss and administrative personnel. Staff from
several other ancillary areas of the hospital such as the laboratory, radiology,
food and nutrition, respiratory services, social services and chaplaincy
services also assist patients and their families as appropriate.
To encourage independence with daily activities, the unit offers a home-like,
comfortable setting that includes:
Centralized nursing station
Nutrition center
Dining/activity area
Cable television
Private conference room for patients and families
The Transitional Care Unit (TCU) is located on the sixth floor of Binghamton
General Hospital on the Krembs side of the facility.
