BILLINGS - People who are done with their hospital stay, but are not quite ready to go home, now have a new place to go.
The Advanced Care Hospital of Montana opened its door to patients on Monday.
It is an all private, long-term acute care hospital that provides specialized medical and nursing services for patients recovering from say a stroke, head injury, or other catastrophic or chronic medical conditions.
It is run by Earnest Health, and it is licensed like Billings Clinic and St. Vincent Healthcare, said Advanced Care Hospital of Montana CEO, Joe McClure.
It is located on Billings West End off Gabel Road.
There are 40 beds, patients are seen by a doctor every day, and nurses are on the floor around the clock.
Dietary and rehabilitation services are also provided.
The average stay is expected to be about 25 days, and a patient must be referred by a physician.
“Talk to your doctor about it, and let your case manager know that if you have a family member in the hospital that this may be an option for them,” said McClure.
McClure said hospital stays will be covered by insurance and Medicare.
McClure said for the first six months they will keep their patient volume down as they are in a demonstration process to prove to Medicare that they are a legitimate long-term acute care hospital.
Several patients have already been admitted, but the hospital does not serve pediatrics.