September 29, 2005

SIU Med School and Carlinville Hospital Announce Partnership

Funding for a new health care service in Macoupin County is being provided to Carlinville Area Hospital in Carlinville, thanks to a partnership between the hospital and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. The project is another in a series of the School's Rural Health Initiative (RHI) partnerships.

The grant of $25,530 is helping fund the relocation and upgrading of the outpatient rehabilitation program. An unused building on the hospital campus has been renovated to provide a larger gym/therapy area. The new area offers easier access and a more aesthetically pleasing atmosphere, where patients can feel more comfortable during therapy sessions.

The program now offers new weight machines and other exercise equipment, which were installed last week. Two additional therapists and one therapist assistant will be hired soon. About 1,450 orthopedic patients, an increase of 10 to 20 percent, per year are expected to benefit from the program.

"We are very pleased with our partnership with SIU School of Medicine because this grant is helping provide a much needed health care service for the residents of Carlinville and surrounding areas by allowing our hospital's rehabilitation program to be expanded and function more efficiently," said Steve Hanna, interim CEO of Carlinville Area Hospital, during a press conference announcing the grant.

"SIU is proud to support Carlinville Area Hospital for this project because it helps bring a enhanced service to their patients," said John Record, assistant dean for rural and alumni affairs at SIU, who coordinates the School's RHI program.

SIU School of Medicine continues its efforts to work with downstate physicians, hospitals and health care agencies to assess health care needs of the region. Additional support for the School's on-going efforts to improve health care in the region has come from the Illinois Legislature through the Rural/Downstate Health Act, which began in 1994. Its goal is to improve health care in the rural and medically underserved areas of the state and is funded with a state supported budget of $1.8 million per year. Nearly 60 RHI partnerships have been developed by SIU.

For more information about the program at Carlinville Area Hospital, call Tracy Koster, 217-854-3141, ext. 532 weekdays.

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