Three medical students have received scholarship awards at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.

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St. John's Hospital has received a $255,000 federal grant to support expansion of Telehomecare Monitoring for patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) living in rural areas of central and southern Illinois.

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A research scientist at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield has been awarded a five-year grant from the National Cancer Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to study ways to prevent or reduce metastasis in breast cancer. The total budget for the grant is $1,521,659.

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The following Lincoln Land Community College students received a pin and certificate for completing the Basic Nurse Assistant course at a pinning ceremony that was held July 29 at LLCC’s main campus in Springfield. They are now eligible to take the Nurse Aide Competency Exam to become certified nursing assistants (CNA). The students are listed in hometown order.

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A new St. John’s Health Center at North Dirksen Parkway will open on Monday, August 30 and feature a Priority Care walk-in clinic from 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. each day. Dr. Dennis Adams, Dr. Gerard Bitar, and Colleen Kelly, PA, will also see patients by appointment.

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Free exercise and yoga classes specifically tailored for individuals who have or have had cancer will begin Tuesday, September 7, at the Simmons Cancer Institute, Side-by-Side Place of Wellness, 315 W. Carpenter (Room 3015), Springfield.

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Memorial’s SportsCare will hold its third annual women’s biathlon on Sunday, Sept. 12, at Koke Mill Medical Center. The biathlon route is a 20-kilometer bike ride and a 5-kilometer run. Women can choose to participate in the entire event or select the relay option, in which one woman completes the bike portion of the event and her partner finishes the run. Limited registration is available.

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Richard Meyerholz has received a monetary award from the Kathryn Terry Scholarship at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. The scholarship is given annually to third and/or fourth year medical students.

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Memorial’s SportsCare will offer Saturday-morning injury clinics during the regular football season for area athletes from Aug. 28 through Oct. 23.

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A new support group for women who are being treated for cancer or who are cancer survivors has been started at Simmons Cancer Institute (SCI) at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. Women Around You (WAY) will meet at 5:30 p.m. on the fourth Wednesdays of each month beginning on August 25. The one-hour meetings will be held in SCI’s Side-by-Side Place of Wellness (Room 3015), 315 W. Carpenter, Springfield.

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A research scientist at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield reports the development of a new type of vaccine for herpes simplex virus (HSV-2) that holds hope for the prevention of genital herpes. His findings were published this week by the Public Library of Science (PLoS) in their journal PLoS ONE.

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The KidneyMobile, the nation’s first mobile classroom and screening program for the detection of kidney disease and its risk factors, will visit Memorial Medical Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25, to offer free screenings for kidney disease.

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Two research scientists at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield have been awarded three shared equipment grants from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The total of the three awards is $1,162,716.

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Prairie Heart Institute at St. John’s Hospital recently implemented a Hospital to Home (H2H) program in which all patients discharged with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) or an Acute Myocardial Infarction (heart attack) are offered a follow-up visit with a registered nurse within one-to-two weeks after their hospitalization. The consultation with the nurse is in addition to follow-up appointments patients will have with their physician.

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Memorial Medical Center is hosting two free community events in August as part of the two-year anniversary of its Wound Healing Center. Dr. Michael Neumeister, medical director of Memorial’s Wound Healing Center, will lead a free lunch-and-learn session titled “My Wound Won’t Heal – What Can I Do?” from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 11, in the hospital’s Wedeberg Conference Center.

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St. John’s Hospital’s Center for Diabetes & Metabolic Health now offers classes on diabetes care and management. A certified nurse educator and dietitian will present a five-part diabetes education series for those in the Springfield area affected by diabetes.

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Memorial Medical Center’s sixth annual 5K Transplant Run/Walk to benefit kidney and pancreas transplant patients will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, in Washington Park in Springfield. Registration begins at 7 a.m. The registration fee is $20 for adults and $10 for 12-year-olds and younger. Participants will meet at the picnic shelter area near the tennis courts and playground.

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Twelve medical students at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine have completed their Mentored Professional Enrichment Experiences (MPEE). The summer program is an SIU elective between the first and second years of medical school, designed as an opportunity for students to work with physicians or researchers at SIU or other medical campuses. Students give formal presentations about the experience to the medical school community this fall.

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Mental illness in 19th century America is the topic for the 15th annual Emmet F. Pearson Memorial Medical History Lecture at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. The free, public lecture is at 6 p.m. Thursday, August 19, in SIU’s South Auditorium (second floor), 801 N. Rutledge St. in Springfield.

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The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board today approved St. John’s Hospital’s proposed Surgery Modernization project. The $121 million construction project will replace the portion of St. John’s existing inpatient surgery department that was constructed in the late 1960s. The project will link St. John’s Pavilion to the hospital’s patient tower and Prairie Heart Institute. The new surgery space is scheduled to be completed in 2013.

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SPRINGFIELD – On Saturday, July 24, St. John’s Hospital will team up again with the Springfield Sliders to “Strike Out Stroke.” For each ticket purchased at the gate, $1 will be donated to St. John’s Hospital Stroke Center

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Mike Flister, a doctoral candidate at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, has attended the 2010 Lindau Meeting of Nobel Laureates and Students in Lindau, Germany.

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SPRINGFIELD – New services recently introduced at St. John’s Hospital allow for easier and more efficient access for patients who seek medical care.

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Dr. John D. Mellinger has joined the faculty at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine as a professor, division chair and residency program director of general surgery.

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State law requires physicals for students entering kindergarten, sixth and ninth grades, college or any student new to the state to be complete by Oct. 15, said Rajesh Govindaiah, MD, senior vice president and chief medical officer for Memorial Health System. With 14 locations, Memorial Physician Services has pediatricians and family medicine physicians who are available to provide this service.

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Memorial Medical Center has once again received a rare fivefold accreditation for its rehabilitation services from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. Memorial is the only healthcare organization in Illinois – and one of less than 40 in the world – to receive full, three-year accreditations for five program areas for rehabilitation services.

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Dr. Marsha Prater, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, senior vice president and chief nursing officer for Memorial Health System, has been appointed to the advisory board of the Illinois Center for Nursing. She was appointed by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn on June 25 to serve a term that ends on June 30, 2013.

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A physician at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield has been awarded a second federal grant from the National Cancer Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health, for the study of physical activity after breast cancer. Total budget for the two-year grant is $348,109.

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The 25th annual Camp COCO will host 130-plus campers with cancer and other blood disorders during its one-week session July 11 through 16. A project of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, the camp will be held at the Timber Pointe Outdoor Conference Center on Lake Bloomington. The theme for this year’s camp is “Camp COCO University”

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Project Innovation is proud to announce the five award winners announced at the Final Competition on June 9, 2010. The recipient of the first place prize of $15,000 was Jardogs, LLC for their innovation of a Patient Kiosk. The Patient Kiosk is a biometric authentication device that is more accurate and faster than a fingerprint.

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Treating diabetes is the topic of a public education program to be presented in July in Springfield by the endocrinology division at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. It will be held 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, July 12, at the James T. Dove, M.D. Conference Center, Prairie Heart Institute, 619 E. Mason St., Springfield.

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SPRINGFIELD – For the second year, St. John’s Hospital and the Sangamon County Department of Public Health will team up to offer WIC (Women, Infants and Children) clients access to free produce.

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A new procedure, endoscopic ultrasonography or EUS, is now available from gastroenterologists at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield. EUS combines endoscopy and ultrasound, providing more details than other imaging procedures and often leading to quicker diagnosis and treatment.

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Three college students who plan careers in medicine with an interest in cancer research have begun their summer internships at Simmons Cancer Institute (SCI) at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield.

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The Simmons Cancer Institute at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine will celebrate its second annual butterfly release at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 26, in Springfield. Butterflies native to the area will be released at the Thomas Garden of Hope which is on the grounds of Simmons Cancer Institute’s new facility at 315 W. Carpenter.

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Three research awards have been announced by the Department of Pharmacology at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield.

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Memorial’s SportsCare will hold an education fair and early sign-up event in July for its third annual women’s biathlon later this fall. The early sign-up for the biathlon will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 17, at SportsCare at 100 Chatham Road in Springfield. For more information about the sign-up event or the biathlon, call (217) 862-0444 or visit SportsCareWomensBiathlon.com.

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Memorial Heart and Vascular Services and FitClub will host a free event from 8-10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 16, about making heart-healthy lifestyle choices. The event will be at FitClub South, 3631 South Sixth St., Springfield. It will include health screenings, prizes and special recognition of Memorial’s Phase III Cardiovascular Rehabilitation program, housed at FitClub South for 10 years.

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SPRINGFIELD – St. John’s Hospital has appointed Pat Schulz to serve as the Chief People Officer for St. John’s Referral Division, which includes St. John’s Hospital and St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield.

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SPRINGFIELD – St. John’s Hospital has appointed Randy Obert, JD, as Regional Referral Division Director for Quality and Risk Management. Obert joined St. John’s leadership team in 2009, and has served as the Director of Risk Management.

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Health care consumers will have another option for convenient access to quality health care services when St. John’s Health Center – South 6th Street opens in early 2011. The 28,000 square foot facility will be the new home for St. John’s Sleep Center and St. John’s Center for Interventional Pain Management. The health center will also include space for cardiology clinics from Prairie Cardiovascular providers, HSHS Medical Group primary care physician and walk-in clinics, basic and advanced imaging, and lab services.

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The following Lincoln Land Community College students received a pin and certificate for completing the Basic Nurse Assistant course at a pinning ceremony that was held in May at LLCC’s main campus in Springfield. They are now eligible to take the Nurse Aide Competency Exam to become certified nursing assistants (CNA). The students are listed in hometown order.

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Teams are being formed for the annual charity golf scramble in June benefiting the Camp COCO Children’s Cancer Fund at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield. There will be a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, June 25, at Piper Glen Golf Club, 7112 Piper Glen Dr., Springfield. The presenting sponsor of the four-person scramble is Complete Care Pharmacy.

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Memorial Medical Center and Springfield Clinic are offering an innovative cardiac catheterization procedure that uses patients’ wrists, rather than the groin region, to access blood vessels leading to the heart. The procedure, known as radial access catheterization, is performed in the cardiac cath labs at Memorial Medical Center.

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Mental Health Centers of Central Illinois, an affiliate of Memorial Health System, will receive up to $300,000 from the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation to begin development of a comprehensive community-based children’s mental health system in Springfield. MHCCI is the lead agency representing a community-wide collaboration.

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A free seminar on advocacy initiatives for people with disabilities will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 25, in Memorial Medical Center’s Wedeberg Conference Center. Sponsored by Memorial Rehab Services, “Being Your Own Best Advocate” will feature guest speakers, health screenings and information booths. A free lunch will be provided, but reservations are necessary by calling (217) 788-3333.

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Memorial Medical Center has been named a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). The ASMBS program was created to recognize bariatric surgery centers that perform well and to help surgeons and hospitals continue to improve the quality and safety of care provided.

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The Springfield Sliders have recruited St. John’s Hospital to their roster this season to help drive home the importance of staying safe during the summer. The new “Safe at Home” program will offer fans thousand of free giveaways designed to improve safety in and around the home during select home games throughout the season. St. John’s staff, along with the Springfield Fire Department, will also offer safety demonstrations and information during “Safe at Home” games.

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Commencement exercises for the 36th graduating class of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine will be held at noon Saturday, May 22. Sixty-eight physicians and six graduate students are receiving degrees. The ceremony is held in the Sangamon Auditorium at the University of Illinois at Springfield.

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Academic promotions have been awarded to ten faculty members at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. The promotions were approved this spring by the SIU Board of Trustees and are effective this July 1.

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The first Women’s Power Lunch Against Cancer will be held at noon Friday, May 21, at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Springfield. Sponsored by Simmons Cancer Institute at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, it will feature author and syndicated advice columnist Amy Dickinson.

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Several decades may separate Greg Robbins and Eugene Bishop, but they share a common interest – the desire to make a difference. The two men are among the 400 volunteers at Memorial Medical Center. The hospital’s Department of Volunteer Services is in the midst of recruiting additional volunteers for 2010.

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The fourth annual 5K Run/Walk to benefit Memorial’s Regional Burn Center will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 5, in Washington Park in Springfield. For more information or to receive a registration form, call (217) 788-3330, send an e-mail to mottar.rosie@mhsil.com or amoore@siumed.edu or visit MemorialBurnCenter.com.

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Memorial Medical Center’s Hearing Center will offer free hearing screenings in May, which is “Better Speech and Hearing Month.” Screenings are available by appointment only at the Hearing Center, 644 N. Second St., Springfield. Appointments can be made by calling (217) 788-3767 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

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Officers and four new board members have been named to Southern Illinois University School of Medicine’s Alumni Society Board of Governors.

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A free car seat inspection and health fair event, “Spring into Safety,” will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 4, at the Simmons Cancer Institute parking lot, corner of Carpenter and Rutledge Streets, Springfield.

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SPRINGFIELD – St. John’s Children’s Hospital is hosting a Wheelchair Basketball Clinic and Benefit on Friday, April 30th, at the Lincoln Land Community College Gymnasium. The event will support St. John’s P.A.L.S. (Peers, Activity, Love and Support) program which gives kids with chronic illnesses or disabilities the chance to socialize with other children who are facing similar challenges.

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St. John’s Hospital has appointed Russell Yang, MD, PhD, as Medical Director of Gastroenterology Services. Dr. Yang serves as Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Southern Illinois University (SIU) School of Medicine.

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St. John’s Hospital today announced it has submitted a Certificate of Need (CON) application to the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board for approval to modernize a portion of its Surgery Department.

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Parkinson’s disease is the topic of a public educational forum to be presented in April by the Center for Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. It will be held Saturday morning, April 24, in the Wedeberg Conference Center at Memorial Medical Center, 701 N. Miller St., Springfield.

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Five minutes is all it takes to get screened for head and neck cancer. The free screenings will be performed by specialists in otolaryngology head and neck surgery and sponsored by SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute (SCCI) at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield. They are open to the public.

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Memorial Health System returned more than $80.3 million in community benefits in the fiscal year that concluded on Sept. 30, according to the nonprofit system’s annual community benefits report.

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A free educational program designed to help older adults improve their driving safety skills by ensuring their cars are properly adjusted for them will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, April 29, at Koke Mill Medical Center in Springfield. The program, called CarFit, is for drivers who are at least 65 years old and own a vehicle. Appointments are required by calling (217) 331-5426.

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A free diabetes education program will be offered from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, at Memorial Medical Center. “Taking Control of Diabetes” will be held in the hospital’s Wedeberg Conference Center located on the lower level near the main entrance. To register, people can call (217) 788-3333.

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An educational program designed to help older adults improve their driving safety skills by ensuring their cars are properly adjusted for them will be held Thursday, April 29, at Koke Mill Medical Center in Springfield.

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For the second consecutive year, Memorial Health System has been recognized as an Employer of Choice – one of 14 healthcare providers from across the nation to currently hold the award that recognizes an employer’s dedication to its employees.

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Project Innovation announces a free educational workshop to be held on Thursday, April 1, 2010 at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Pearson Museum at 801 N. Rutledge Street in Springfield. The workshop will begin at 4:30 p.m. and will be followed by a reception beginning at 6:15 p.m. Pre-registration is required by contacting Mikal Sutton-Vereen at 217.525.1173.

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The world’s leading journal for runners has taken notice of the Lincoln Memorial Half Marathon, set for Saturday, April 3. In the April issue of Runner’s World, the magazine features the half marathon as one of the “Races and Places” to run this spring. More than 1,000 runners are expected to take part in the 13.1 mile race that that winds through the streets of Springfield, giving runners an up-close view of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM), the Old State Capitol, Lincoln’s Home, Lincoln’s Tomb and other historical sites.

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St. John’s Children’s Hospital and Southern Illinois University (SIU) School of Medicine are offering free monthly seminars on pediatric health topics to the community. Each month during the school year St. John’s Children’s and SIU will present an “After School with the Doctor” seminar at Prairie Heart Institute’s Dove Conference Center, 619 E. Mason.

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The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce Quantum Growth Partnership (Q5) is excited to announce PROJECT INNOVATION, a Sangamon County medical contest that will provide funding to entrepreneurs and pioneering companies for medical-related innovation with a $15,000 award for the final winner. As part of the overall Q5 goals to increase opportunities for business and economic growth in our communities, Q5 has formed Project Innovation to encourage creative thinking by providing financial and business resources to advance medical care and treatment.

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The number of licensed registered nurses (RNs) in the United States grew to a new high of 3.1 million between 2004 and 2008 according to a report released today by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This increase of more than 5 percent also reflects growing diversity in the backgrounds of nurses in the United States.

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The Central Illinois Nursing Initiative is proud to introduce Samantha D. Stevenson, Diversity Caseworker Coordinator. Ms. Stevenson will assist the Central Illinois Nursing Initiative in the marketing and recruitment of diverse individuals interested in pursuing a career in the field of nursing.

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“Open access” scheduling for colon cancer screening is now available at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield. Five physicians in SIU’s gastroenterology (GI) division are providing the service to encourage more people to be checked for the cancer.

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Thanks to generous support from Kohl’s Department Store, St. John’s Children’s Hospital today unveiled a new interactive education program designed to teach children about the importance of exercise and proper nutrition. Kohl’s, through the Kohl's Cares for Kids® program, provided support to St. John’s Children’s Hospital to create the new Hands on Healthy traveling educational program. Students at Wanless Elementary School were among the first students to participate in the program.

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The Memorial Medical Center Foundation has announced the award of more than $268,000 in health-related grants for community and health-system initiatives. Since 1984, the Foundation has distributed nearly $5.9 million in health-related grants. Its next round of grant applications will be solicited with a deadline of Dec. 1.

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St. John’s Hospital and Sacred Heart-Griffin (SHG) High School today announced a long-term collaboration that will establish a new AthletiCare facility at the school’s West Campus, offer the community greater access to a comprehensive array of health and wellness services, and provide students with educational opportunities in the health care industry.

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Officials at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine have signed an interagency agreement that will provide $600,000 in funds for operations of SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute at SIU. The one-time funds cover the remainder of the current fiscal year that ends in June 2010.

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Memorial Medical Center is helping eligible employees refresh their basic skills and learn medical terminology to advance their healthcare careers. The School at Work program is designed to help employees bridge from a high school education to readiness for healthcare certification or degree programs. Students began meeting in January for two hours every Wednesday afternoon.

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Memorial Medical Center is accepting applications for a free, four-day summer camp for high school students interested in a nursing career.Now in its ninth year, Memorial’s Teens Experiencing Nursing camp will be held from July 19-22. Students receive hands-on learning about the nursing profession as well as observe and work with professional nurses. Only 30 students will be selected.

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Memorial Medical Center has earned certification as a primary stroke center from The Joint Commission. The certification recognizes the nonprofit, community-based hospital for “exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke care,” according to The Joint Commission.

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Members of the public who are at risk for Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) are invited to participate in a free screening for the disease during Friday afternoons in March at Prairie Heart Institute at St. John’s Hospital. Dr. Colleen Moore, Assistant Professor, Division of Vascular Surgery, SIU School of Medicine, will conduct the screenings.

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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois has designated St. John’s Hospital as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement. Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement are part of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association’s expansion of its Blue Distinction® designation.

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A six-week program, Journey to Healthy Living, is being offered by the Department of Internal Medicine at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield. The program meets 1:30 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, March 3 – April 7, at the SIU Clinics, 751 N. Rutledge, lower level, Springfield. The cost for the six-week program is $10 and registration is required.

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The term E-Health is short for electronic health. It refers to the use of computers and networks like the Internet to store and manage your medical records, instead of paper files. With E-Health, important information about your health is available when and where it’s needed. E-Health is also sometimes called health information technology.

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Women who have had breast cancer are being recruited by Southern Illinois University School of Medicine for a study to determine the effectiveness of a program designed to help breast cancer patients exercise regularly. The study is being nationally funded by the National Cancer Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Heath.

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The Board of Directors for St. John’s College of Nursing recently announced Dr. Brenda Jeffers, PhD, R.N. as the new Chancellor for the College. Jeffers previously served as Interim Associate Dean and Director of Master’s /Doctoral Programs and Research at Mennonite College of Nursing at Illinois State University in Normal.

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The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce recently promoted Mikal Sutton-Vereen to Director of Medical Development.

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The Illinois Nurse Association (INA) is presenting the 12th annual Student Nurse Political Action Day on Wednesday, March 24th, 2010. The event will be held at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in downtown Springfield.

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SPRINGFIELD – The public is invited to attend Prairie Heart Institute’s (PHI) “Prairie Heart Fair,” on Saturday, February 13 at White Oaks Mall. Celebrity Chef and author Art Smith will be the special guest and conduct a cooking demonstration using heart healthy foods at 11 a.m. in the mall’s center court near the Macy’s wing.

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College students who plan a career in medicine or research with a focus on cancer research will have the opportunity to learn basic laboratory techniques with supervision through a summer internship program at SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute (SCCI) at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield. The paid internship is available to three qualified students on a competitive basis.

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Black History Month will be celebrated with two public programs in February at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield. Several service activities and movie screenings also are planned by SIU medical students.

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For the second consecutive year, Memorial Health System was named one of the top 100 most integrated health networks in the country, one of only four health systems in Illinois to earn the honor. The health system was 73rd on the list, up from its rank of 89 on the previous year’s roster of honored organizations.

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SPRINGFIELD – Despite the preconceived notion that a heart attack begins with a rapid and dramatic onset of debilitating chest pain, most heart attacks actually start slowly and in many cases a person may not be sure of what is happening. Because half of cardiac-related deaths occur within one hour, and outside of a hospital, it’s important to recognize the warning signs and act quickly.

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Memorial Medical Center has awarded scholarships to 12 nursing students through the newly established Memorial Scholar Program. The program provides scholarships to students attending Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, MacMurray College in Jacksonville and Millikin University in Decatur.

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A free educational seminar on arthritis will be held at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, in the Wedeberg Conference Center at Memorial Medical Center. The 90-minute session, “Arthritis Care and You,” will be led by a team of eight physicians from SIU HealthCare, the medical practice group of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.

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Memorial Medical Center is one of only eight hospitals in Illinois to receive dual recognition as a Blue Distinction Center for hip and knee replacement as well as spine surgery from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The designation is given to hospitals and other healthcare facilities demonstrating expertise in the delivery of quality healthcare.

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Memorial Medical Center has expanded its surgery department with the addition of two new state-of-the-art operating rooms equipped with five video screens and a video integration system that features a touch screen that can detect a finger from within an inch of the actual screen. The 18,806-square-foot renovation gives the hospital a total of 18 operating rooms in its main surgery department.

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The mission of this "community-wide" cooperative is to continuously improve the healthcare communication connections among and between the healthcare system Stakeholders for the benefit of the patients and their caregivers.

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Springfield Radiologists, S.C., the physician group that provides radiology services to the patients at St. John’s Hospital, has merged with Central Illinois Radiological Associates, Ltd. (CIRA) based in Peoria, Illinois. The merger will enhance the medical care provided to patients in the region by leveraging the clinical expertise and resources of the two organizations.

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SIU Mini Medical School, a five-week series of 10 lectures for the public on various medical and health care topics, will return to Springfield on consecutive Wednesday evenings beginning January 27. A program of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, the lectures are presented in an easy to understand format and cover a variety of topics.

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St. John’s Hospital has once again been certified as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission, the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. The certification recognizes hospitals that make exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke care. Advanced Primary Stroke Centers adhere to national stroke guidelines, continually assess and improve how care is delivered, and tailor their stroke treatment to individual needs.

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