The Taylorville Kiwanis Club held their business meeting to review current Kiwanis Club activities for children and youth in the community at their weekly luncheon Tuesday at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital auditorium. The guest speaker was Becky Erlenbush with Taylorville Memorial Care Management.

Erlenbush discussed with Kiwanis what the swing bed program is and how it is beneficial to hospital patients and the local community. The Turn the Corner Swing Bed Program allows patients to transfer with confidence from acute hospital care (at TMH or any other hospital) to Swing Bed care at TMH. It allows patients to be closer to home and family during rehabilitation and there are many benefits that Erlenbush outlined: First, the rooms are private with a registered nurse on the unit 24/7. Next, there is a low patient-to-nurse ratio with access to on-site hospital resources such as radiology, lab, and pharmacy. Also, a dietitian is on staff in addition to patient access to physical and occupational therapy. Length of stays in the program is patient specific and as long as progress is being demonstrated, individuals can stay in the program. As a critical access hospital, the swing bed program has become a central area of focused service to Taylorville Memorial Hospital. For more information click here or contact care management 217-824-1130.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club is part of global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. Weekly meetings are held Tuesdays at noon at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital auditorium. For information on the club, go to taylorvillekiwanis.com.