There was a big tent for shade, tables and chairs, good food, sweets and treats, smiling faces, and even a clown and magic. The occasion was the second annual reunion of past patients in the hospital's Swing Bed program.

Sylvan Grove Hospital's Swing Bed program allows an individual to move his or her level of care from acute to skilled rehabilitation and still remain in a hospital setting. The program is designed to help a patient heal and return home.

During time in the Swing Bed program, patients and their families often develop warm relationships with the therapists, nurses, other hospital staff, and fellow patients who are helping them work toward a return to health and more self-sufficiency. The annual reunion gives them all a chance to get together, reminisce, catch up, and just have a good time.

"We practice modern medicine with old-fashioned family values" said Sylvan Grove Hospital Administrator Ed Whitehouse as he addressed the reunion. "Yes, you do," came a shout from the audience.

"I know you sometimes refer to therapy as the torture chamber while you're here, but we're glad to see you back," said Whitehouse. "You've got a good therapy department," said a voice from another part of the crowd.

People, including many from outside of Butts County, come to Sylvan Grove's Swing Bed program to recover from joint replacement or other types of surgery, to recover from stroke, cardiac, or respiratory illness or other medical conditions, and to heal wounds that need long-term antibiotics or other therapy.

The Swing Bed program admitted its first patient in March 2000; it admitted 294 patients during 2007.

The medical director of the program is Dr. Bennie White; important personnel in the program include Pattie Joyner, Dorothy Clear, Rene Cason, and Julie Johnson.

Doodles the Clown kept the attendees at the reunion laughing, from children to those in their 90's. She was assisted by Steve, the ferret and Gladys, the rabbit as well as Vernon and Conner from the audience.

"It's really been a success," said Whitehouse, referring to both the Swing Bed program and the reunion.