When the Little Things Make a Big Difference
When Anjna Gupta arrived at Taylorville Memorial Hospital’s Swing Bed unit, her family wasn’t sure what to expect.
Anjna had spent nearly two weeks hospitalized at Springfield Memorial Hospital before transferring to Taylorville for additional care and rehabilitation. For her son in California, Sundeep Gupta, MD, MPH, and the rest of the family, the transition came with some apprehension.
What they found in Taylorville delighted them.
“It was incredible all around,” Dr. Gupta said of TMH. “The staff universally took the time, with genuine care and affection, to think about and address every little detail with my mom.”
During Anjna’s stay, her family noticed that care went beyond her immediate medical and rehabilitation needs. Staff members listened to her. They respected what she had to say and what mattered to her. Often, they recognized what she needed before she even had to ask.
“No one talked down to my mom,” Dr. Gupta said. “They observed and listened carefully, respected her statements and needs, and often anticipated them.”
That approach reflects the kind of patient-centered care Memorial Health strives to provide, with patients and their loved ones treated as important members of the healthcare team.
For Anjna, that philosophy showed up in practical, personal ways. Some staff members brought her books. Others paid attention to the comfort of her chair and bed, her food tray and the things she needed to wash and care for herself.
None of those gestures was particularly complicated. Together, they made a lasting impression.
A Team Effort
Dr. Gupta specifically remembers Alexandra Ess with Case Management; David Emrick, RN, Acute Care; and Anelisa Henry from inpatient physical therapy. But what stood out most, he said, was that the same spirit seemed to extend throughout the facility.
From the switchboard operators and Swing Bed unit receptionist to nurses, techs and other staff members, the family consistently encountered people who wanted to help.
That teamwork became especially important because Sundeep lives in California and needed to stay connected to his mother’s care from a distance.
“When I called, Alex was always willing to take the time to talk and answer my questions, even if it meant spending a fair amount of her time finding others to get me the answers,” he said.
By the time Anjna was ready to leave the Swing Bed unit and return home, her family’s initial uncertainty had been replaced by gratitude.
“My mom left extremely grateful and impressed with the Swing Bed unit and the proactive, comprehensive culture of caring which exists there,” Dr. Gupta said. “We have never experienced this level of consistent caring and thoroughness before.”
Sometimes, those seemingly small moments are what patients and families remember most.
Want to learn more?
Visit Memorial Health for more details about our Swing Bed programs at both Lincoln Memorial Hospital and Taylorville Memorial Hospital.
- Lincoln Memorial Hospital’s Swing Bed Unit Renews Hope for Springfield Couple
- Swing Bed Program Helps Man Recover Closer to Home
- Bringing Joy to Swing Bed Team at LMH