The following topics are often at top of mind for many families, but you may have additional questions, feel free to contact us.
How can we make the room feel like home?
Each resident has a built-in display case outside the room that showcases personality, experiences and individual pride. For additional information, please call 608-845-1000.
Will I see my doctor every day, just as in the hospital?
When a person is admitted to St. Mary’s Care Center, his or her primary physician in the community remains the primary doctor here. We keep in close contact with the physician on any changes in condition or medication needs, but doctors do not round in nursing facilities on a daily basis. Many physicians have Geriatric Nurse Practitioners (GNPs) who assist them with visiting residents in the nursing facilities and monitoring their progress and status.
Physicians are required to see their residents in the nursing facility at least once a quarter. Some doctors come to the Care Center and others require that the resident go to the clinic office. If it is difficult for the resident or a family member to get to the clinic, it may make sense to choose a physician who makes visits at the nursing facility. The best way to find this out is to ask the physician or his or her nurse.
What kind of insurance do you accept?"
St. Mary’s Care Center works with a variety of Medicare Supplemental and Long-Term Care insurance policies. We have contracts with both DeanCare and Alliance, but we are willing to work with all insurances.
What does Medicare cover in a nursing home?
Medicare offers a maximum of 100 days of coverage in a skilled nursing facility, but it does not guarantee 100 days of coverage. In order for Medicare to cover, a person has to have a 3-day stay (3 consecutive nights) in a hospital and be admitted to a nursing facility for the same reason they were hospitalized. Once admitted, a person must require skilled nursing or therapy on a daily basis. “Skilled nursing” is defined by Medicare, which has very strict guidelines. In therapy, a person must be making gains to be covered. Once a person plateaus or reaches goals, he or she is typically cut from Medicare.
Our goal is to maximize your coverage, but also to operate in an ethical manner consistent with our mission. Our team of professionals meets once a week to discuss all the residents currently being covered under Medicare. We communicate with you if Medicare coverage is nearing its completion. On average, most residents are covered for about 2 to 4 weeks, but this varies depending on a person’s diagnosis and progress.
How much will a stay at St. Mary’s Care Center cost?
Click here to download the 2007 price list
What are the staffing ratios?
During the day and evening shifts, we normally have about 1 CNA (certified nursing assistant) to 7 or 8 residents. During the night shift, we have one CNA per neighborhood, since residents are not getting up for therapy, appointments and meals. There is always an RN in the facility. During the day, 4 Resident Care Coordinators (RN) are in house as well as our DON, our ADON, and many team nurses. Team nurses are the ones who are typically passing medications, doing treatments, and monitoring daily needs and changes.
How much therapy is available?
St. Mary’s Care Center offers Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy from an incredible, community renowned team of professionals. Therapy is available 6 days a week, but how often someone receives it is largely due to how much is ordered by the physician and how much a person can tolerate. This depends on the resident themselves, their reason for admission, and perhaps other health concerns.
What are the visiting hours?
Visiting hours are determined by the resident-there are no set visiting hours. Our front entrance locks in the evening, but there is a doorbell, and once identified, a family member or friend would be allowed into the facility.
Is there a waiting list? And if so, how long is the wait?
Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question.
We do keep a waiting list for our Long-Term and Memory Care Units. It is almost impossible to say what the wait is since much of it is determined by the current acuity on any given unit as well as the specific needs of a potential resident. We have had some individuals on our wait list for a year, and others are in the facility within a few months.
We do not keep a waiting list for our Short-Term Rehabilitation area because circumstances change so quickly. However, if you know you are having surgery, we encourage you to call ahead and let us know when you are expected to need our services. We cannot guarantee we will have a room available, but we do our very best to plan accordingly for you.
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