Transitional Care
There is truly no place like home, but sometimes supervised recovery from illness or surgery is needed, even if patients no longer require full acute hospital care. Merit Health Wesley has a solution that can feel a little closer to home. Our transitional living care unit provides extra time for recovery as patients regain the ability to perform daily tasks and transition to life at home following traumas, surgeries or other life-altering events. Patients treated by the transitional care unit include those who are recovering from orthopedic, cardiac and pulmonary diagnoses or surgeries.
Services include:
The transitional care unit is located in Tower A on the 4th floor of Merit Health Wesley.
For more information, please call (601) 268-8000.
COVID-19 Update for the Transitional Care Unit
Maintaining the safety of our patients/residents and caregivers is our highest priority and we are focused on providing a COVID-safe environment. Numerous precautions for infection control and social distancing are in place so patients can safely receive the medical services they need.
All patients/residents and employees are screened daily for symptoms of COVID-19. Non-COVID-19 care areas are defined where patients who have screened as negative for COVID-19 receive care from dedicated staff. If at any time we are caring for COVID-19 positive patients, they are grouped together in the same unit away from all other patients.
Our reporting of cases is updated as any new positive cases are identified or if three or more patients/residents or employees develop COVID-19 symptoms within a 72-hour period.
|
Confirmed Positive |
Potential Cases |
Deaths |
| Patients |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Employees |
0 |
0 |
0 |
*As of 10/12/2020
Screening Our Staff
Before each shift, staff members are screened for symptoms such as a temperature, cough or difficulty breathing. Any who have symptoms remain at home in self-quarantine while they wait for their COVID-19 test results.
Infection Prevention
Our caregivers practice infection prevention every day, including wearing facemasks and other personal protective equipment and washing hands before and after caring for each patient. Cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces and caregiving spaces has been intensified. Additional precautions include a no-visitor policy and suspension of group activities and community dining.
The safety of our patients/residents and the delivery of quality, compassionate care are our top priorities.
Updated Visitation Guidelines for COVID-19
In compliance with new Medicaid and Medicare guidelines, Merit Health Wesley's Transitional Care Unit visitation guidelines are as follows:
- Patients will be allowed open visitation during select hours each week, limited to one visitor per patient at a time.
- Visitation hours are as follows:
- Mondays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Visits will no longer need to be scheduled with TCU staff.
- Outdoor visitation will be available upon request.
- Upon entrance to the hospital, visitors will have their temperatures checked and be required to wear a mask. During their visit, guests must adhere to social distancing practices.
Visitation will be temporarily suspended in the following instances:
- A new case of COVID-19 has been diagnosed within the TCU in the last 14 days
- The facility is conducting outbreak testing
- The positive case rate in Forrest or Lamar county is above 10%
If you have any questions regarding the visitation policy, please call at (601) 268-8626.
Of Note: Merit Health Wesely, in an effort to maintain it's TCU (SNF) unit a COVID free zone, has converted a designated section of licensed acute care beds within the hospital for post-acute inpatient discharge, skilled nursing care needs of COVID positive patients consistent with new regulatory allowances.