Transitional Care Close to Home
March 06, 2025
If you happened to run into Levi Rogers, 46, just two summers ago, you likely would have found him pouring concrete with one of his crews at Mike Rogers Construction, which he took over with his mother, Tina, when his father passed away in 2011. Likely shirtless, smiling and basking in the sun, Rogers had no idea his health would change so quickly.
In April 2023, Rogers felt extremely tired at work for about a week, which was unusual for him.
“I used to be able to work circles around my crews, but there was just something I couldn’t shake,” he remembers.
Urged by a friend, Rogers sought medical attention.
Rogers was diagnosed with a form of meningitis. He began experiencing intense headaches and was hospitalized out of town, eventually suff ering a number of other medical ailments, including ataxia – a neurological condition that aff ects movement. In Rogers, it caused symptoms including tremors, fatigue, and speech and vision problems.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HURON
Following several rehospitalizations and stays in care facilities near Sioux Falls, Rogers was able to return to Huron for care.
“Even though people visited me in Sioux Falls, it was nice to be back in Huron. This is my home,” Rogers says. “I was in bad shape and coming back to people who really cared for me absolutely saved my life.”
After Rogers was admitted to Huron Regional Medical Center, his medical team discovered that the months of being constrained to a bed had led to an infected wound. Becca McCaskell, CNP, and the wound care team at HRMC collaborated to address the issue.
“It was crucial for us to treat Levi’s wound quickly as it had progressed deep into his bone, causing infection that could have entered his blood,” McCaskell says. “We’re thankful we could act quickly with him under our care at HRMC.”
“Swing bed care can be particularly good for someone with complex rehab needs, because we can provide them with a lower patientto-nurse ratio than they would have at a rehabilitation facility. The swing bed nurses are accustomed to caring for acute care and even critically ill patients, so we’re able to watch for complications and quickly deal with those complications if they occur, " said Beth Paul, RN, BSN, director of med-surg and ICU at HRMC.
BRIDGING THE GAP
Once Rogers was healthy enough, he was transitioned to swing bed care at HRMC. Swing bed care is a unique and valuable solution for patients who need additional recovery time or specialized care, but do not require full hospital services.
“Swing bed is often a bridge between the intense care environment of the hospital and going home,” says Kristen Hughes, MD, a hospitalist at HRMC who cared for Rogers. “Swing bed combines the resources of skilled nursing facilities with the fl exibility of hospital services.”
Some additional benefi ts of swing bed care include intense rehabilitation from dedicated physical therapists, activities to promote healing and proximity to specialized care – like wound care in Rogers’ case.
Rogers was appreciative that something like swing bed care exists in Huron and hopes it can help others recover close to home.
“The swing bed team got to know me, and it was fun to laugh and make jokes with them,” he says. “It was the best care – they’re angels.”
PROGRESS EVERY DAY
After nearly six weeks at HRMC in the swing bed program, Rogers was released to Avantara Huron, a rehabilitation facility in the community. He credits the team there with his continued daily progress.
Due to his health, Rogers and his mother were recently forced to sell the concrete business he loved so much. While he would like nothing more than to be pouring concrete again, Rogers has other goals ahead of him – including to gain enough strength to live independently. Until then, he’s increasing the function in his hands by sorting and sleeving thousands of sports cards, fi nding peace in music and remaining thankful for all those who have supported him in his journey.
■ To learn more about transition services from hospital to home at HRMC, visit www.huronregional.org/HRMCtoHome. To learn about wound care services at HRMC, call (605) 353-6252.
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