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Memorial Health Annual Report 2022

Dear Friends,

April 19, 2022, marked 125 years since the founding of our organization. Memorial Health began as a modest hospital and training school for nurses headquartered in a converted private home at Fifth Street and North Grand Avenue in Springfield. Today, we are truly a regional organization, serving patients across central and southern Illinois at our five hospitals, our network of clinics, in patient homes and online. Our services encompass the entire breadth of healthcare, empowering people to live healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Over the years, our story has expanded to include the histories of the hospitals and services that have become part of the Memorial family. Each of you is an important part of that ongoing story. Let the stories in this report serve as a reminder that we are part of a long legacy of caring, compassion and dedication–and that we are responsible for carrying our founders’ vision into the decades to come.

Thanks for being a part of the Memorial story.

Edgar J. Curtis — President and Chief Executive Officer
Todd W. Wise — Chair, Board of Directors

Looking Back – And Looking Ahead

In 2022, Memorial Health celebrated the 125th anniversary of its founding as Springfield Hospital and Training School in 1897. This milestone came in the midst of the organization’s latest transformation, from Memorial Health System to Memorial Health. That change went into effect on Oct. 1, 2021, the first day of the fiscal year.

As Memorial Health—a strengthened, unified organization—we’re well-positioned to meet the challenges of the future.

“As Memorial Health—a strengthened, unified organization—we’re well-positioned to meet the challenges of the future,” said Memorial Health president and CEO Ed Curtis. “Our new name and brand reflect our role as providers of high-quality care to the entire region.”

The most visible signal of the new brand was updated signage installed at Memorial locations across central Illinois. But the integration work going on behind the scenes was in many ways even more crucial in creating One Memorial and streamlining the patient experience. The stories in this report detail some of those efforts, in addition to Memorial’s high-quality care and community outreach.

“This year gave us an opportunity to honor the Memorial story, but it also serves as a turning point in that story,” Curtis said. “While our founders would probably be amazed by the technology and facilities we have available today, I think they would recognize in our colleagues the same spirit of compassion and commitment they had 125 years ago.”

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Partnerships Educate a New Generation

In 2022, Memorial Health expanded its partnerships with local nursing schools, helping educate a new generation, address the regional nursing shortage and potentially bring talented young nursing professionals to Memorial.

In February, leaders from Decatur Memorial Hospital and Richland Community College announced a plan to triple the number of qualified students applying for enrollment into the college’s nursing and healthcare professions programs over the next four years, thanks to a grant from the Decatur Memorial Foundation.

In August, Memorial Health and the Illinois State University Mennonite College of Nursing announced the creation of a new MCN campus in Springfield, scheduled to open in fall 2023 with capacity to educate more than 100 students.

Students in the MCN program will complete educational experiences at Memorial Health clinical sites. Leaders hope opportunities like these will inspire new graduates to consider careers at Memorial.

“We look forward to providing these future nurses the opportunity to practice in an award-winning professional practice environment that has committed to raising the bar of nursing excellence again and again,” said Marsha Prater, Memorial Health senior vice president and chief nursing officer. “We hope many of these future graduates will continue to make the Springfield region their home.”

The MCN and Richland partnerships are only the latest educational collaboration between Memorial Health and local colleges and universities. Tracy Madonia, a registered nurse at Springfield Memorial Hospital, chose to pursue her nursing degree at one of these institutions–Lincoln Land Community College–in part because of its relationship with Memorial.

I was excited to learn that Memorial, a four-time recipient of a Magnet designation, was partnering with LLCC to expand on their already stellar program.

“I was excited to learn that Memorial, a four-time recipient of a Magnet® designation, was partnering with LLCC to expand on their already stellar program,” Madonia said. “This allows more nursing hopefuls the opportunity to pursue their RN and fill a much-needed demand in the field of nursing.”

Ebony Amos, an LPN at Decatur Memorial Hospital who is enrolled in the nursing program at Richland Community College, was one of the featured speakers at a news conference announcing an educational partnership between DMH and Richland.

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SMH, DMH Honored by U.S. News & World Report

SMH and DMH were both recognized in the 2022 U.S. News & World Report rankings of the best hospitals in the nation. SMH was named a Best Regional Hospital in west central Illinois and ranked 24th among the 215 hospitals statewide, in addition to special recognition for colon cancer surgery, COPD care, diabetes care, heart attack care, kidney failure, knee replacement, hip replacement and lung cancer surgery. DMH was recognized for four types of care: COPD care, kidney care, knee replacement and stroke.

Mobilizing to Support Individuals in Crisis

One morning, Tayla Stone, a call center/triage counselor with Memorial Behavioral Health, received a phone call from a young woman struggling with untreated depression and feelings of hopelessness.

“After hearing her story, we were able to highlight her strengths in each moment and reflect on them in a new light,” Stone said. “It was through this newfound recognition that I began to hear hope growing in her tone of voice.”

Moments like these are occurring more often as Memorial Behavioral Health counselors answer local calls to the nationwide 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This service, intended as “911 for mental health,” was created by the U.S. Congress in 2020 as a successor to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. It launched across the country in July 2022.

Memorial Behavioral Health crisis counselors answer calls to the 988 lifeline from Sangamon, Menard, Logan, Mason, Morgan, Scott and Christian counties. The service complements MBH’s other crisis response programs, including the crisis services available at the Eighth Street clinic in Springfield and the Mobile Crisis Response teams. Those 24/7, clinician-led teams launched in April, serving Sangamon and Menard counties, and expanded their services later in the summer to cover Morgan and Scott counties. Callers can reach the service at 217-788-7070.

“Our mobile crisis response teams go out into the community when necessary to de-escalate situations so these individuals in crisis don’t end up in the emergency department or in the corrections system,” said Leaha Jones, manager of behavioral health for Memorial Behavioral Health.

For counselors like Stone, the opportunity to help people in their most difficult hours is rewarding.

These are the very moments that make this job worth it, the knowledge that although you were just a small part of their journey, you were influential enough to make a big impact on their lives.

“These are the very moments that make this job worth it, the knowledge that although you were just a just small part of their journey, you were influential enough to make a big impact on their lives,” she said.

Barbara Wheatley, an alcohol and substance abuse counselor at Memorial Behavioral Health, takes phone calls as part of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Network.

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MH Hospitals Honored for Stroke Care

The stroke teams at DMH and SMH both received 2022 Get with the Guidelines® honors from the American Heart Association. These awards highlight organizations that prevent serious complications and save lives by providing high-quality, timely stroke care. JMH received recertification as a Stroke Ready facility from the Illinois Department of Public Health, recognizing work to quickly test, stabilize and transfer stroke patients.

A Team Approach to Home Care

When Ryan Grosboll, 35, made it back home after a 77-day hospital fight with COVID-19, it was his Memorial Home Care team that helped him finalize his return to normal.

Ryan has Down syndrome and autism and lives in rural Petersburg with his mom, Nancy Grosboll. After a COVID-19 exposure, Ryan started sleeping more than usual and registered a low oxygen reading on the pulse oximeter. When he was taken by ambulance to Springfield Memorial Hospital, he was immediately admitted into intensive care and then placed on a ventilator. His sister Angela Schilsky, MD, who is a radiologist in Texas, described it as “touch and go” every day.

His heartbroken family prepared for the worst while praying for a miracle. And slowly Ryan started to respond to different treatments including convalescent plasma, remdesivir, and proning, which is when a patient on a ventilator is placed on stomach, face down, in order to allow for more expansion of the lungs, which can allow for better oxygenation.

Eventually he was moved from SMH to the swing bed unit at Lincoln Memorial Hospital for his next step to eventually return home.

That’s when Ryan’s siblings started work on the house to make it accessible for his return. They widened doorways on the first floor, updated the bathtub to a walk-in and added a handrail to the garage step. They had a hospital bed, wheelchair and a walker waiting for him. The proning for 16 hours at time had led to a muscle weakness called foot drop, which makes it difficult to lift the front part of the foot.

The physical adjustments were just one part of the recovery process. Back at Memorial Health, Nichole Fultz, manager of clinical services for Memorial Home Care, put together a team for Ryan that included occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy and a home health nurse to help move him forward in his recovery.

I was most concerned with Ryan possibly choking.

“I was most concerned with Ryan possibly choking,” said Ryan’s mom, Nancy. Prior to COVID-19, Ryan had issues with acid reflux and eating his food too quickly, which is common in people with Down syndrome. Add intubation and a tracheostomy to the list and swallowing loomed as a considerable challenge.

Amy Booker, speech language pathologist with Memorial Home Care, conducted an evaluation and two home visits with Ryan and Nancy to work with Ryan on his swallow dysfunction.

“I worked with them on safe swallowing techniques, what to be alert for, signs and symptoms of aspiration,” Amy said. “As he progressed with thickened liquids, we did trials of thin liquids during therapy to monitor for aspiration. He progressed very quickly, mainly because of his mother’s supervision at meals and snack time. She was on top of everything.”

Katie Mullen, an occupational therapist with Memorial Care, worked with Ryan on everything from using utensils at mealtime to mobility issues including moving up and down from the sofa, kitchen chair or the floor, where he liked to relax. His ease of movement had not returned to pre-hospitalization levels, so everyday tasks like using the toilet or pulling pants up and down were more challenging.

Katie worked with Sandi Taylor, a physical therapist with Memorial Home Care, to help with Ryan’s foot drop, which made him a fall risk. She gave Nancy foot drop stretching exercises to do with Ryan to strengthen the muscles in his foot. They practiced on the stair from the garage into the house using the new handrail.

“He had come most of the way by the time he got home,” Sandi said. “He was able to walk but he dragged that left foot, which of course was a fall risk. He actually figured out his own work-around that if he turned his left leg to the side, he could walk more smoothly.”

Ryan is surrounded by a big loving family, all of whom helped in one way or another in his recovery.

The family was overjoyed when Ryan returned home to his normal routine with his mom, thanks to the expertise of his caregivers at SMH, LMH and Memorial Home Care.

After going through all that he did, we are just happy he made it home.

“After going through all that he did, we are just happy he made it home,” said Angela. “And that he was getting better! Nichole Fultz put together a great combination of therapists. He was really able to compensate in his environment once he came back home.”

Ryan’s mom Nancy also credits a higher power.

“We had faith he would be healed,” said Nancy. “We were all praying.”

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From Pandemic to Endemic

In 2022, Memorial Health facilities transitioned away from an active pandemic response and began addressing COVID-19 as an illness endemic in the community. This meant adjusting day-to-day operations and procedures to accommodate caring for COVID-19 patients alongside patients hospitalized for other illnesses and injuries.

The number of patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 continued to decline following a surge in winter 2021-22. Increased immunity due to vaccination and previous exposure meant cases tended to be less severe and more patients were able to recover at home. Memorial Care and Memorial Home Care providers were crucial in helping these individuals get the diagnosis and treatment they needed.

A Seamless Experience for Patients, Colleagues, Providers

In February 2023, Decatur Memorial Hospital and Jacksonville Memorial Hospital will join Springfield Memorial Hospital in using the Cerner electronic health record software. The Cerner Integration project, which began in 2021, will create a more seamless experience for patients, colleagues and providers by ultimately having a single clinical documentation system across all Memorial sites of care.

“The Cerner project is central to our efforts to create an integrated, optimized healthcare delivery system,” said Chuck Callahan, PhD, president of the Memorial Health Hospital Group and president and CEO of Springfield Memorial Hospital. “This work will ensure our colleagues have the right information on the right patient at the right time. Our patients can be confident that their providers have the most up-to-date information on their health, no matter where they access our care across the region.”

Throughout 2022, colleagues from across the organization spent thousands of hours in design and testing to ensure Cerner was ready for go-live, as well as in education and training aimed at ensuring a smooth transition for all clinical users. Future phases of the project will bring the Cerner system to Lincoln Memorial Hospital, Taylorville Memorial Hospital and ambulatory Memorial Care locations, as well as provide ongoing upgrades to benefit patient care.

Memorial Wellness Center Expands to Offer Culinary Medicine

On May 9, Memorial Wellness Center opened its doors in a new location at 320 E. Carpenter St. in Springfield. The move allowed the Center, which was launched in 2013, to bring services under one roof for the first time and expand offerings to include a culinary medicine program.

Memorial Wellness Center offers comprehensive and customized treatment options for weight loss and improved health. Culinary medicine is an educational and nutritional approach designed to improve eating behaviors, promote health and prevent and treat disease through healthy cooking.

“Doctors don’t often talk about the concept of ‘food as medicine’ with their patients,” said Nicole Florence, MD, medical director and bariatrician at Memorial Wellness Center. “That’s usually because the doctor may not be as well-versed in that subject or doesn’t have experience with culinary medicine, particularly how to apply the principles of a healthy diet to prevent and treat disease.”

Leaders at Memorial Wellness Center and SIU Medicine hope to change that conversation by offering on-site training for medical students in the center’s state-of-the-art kitchen. Cooking and nutrition classes will also be offered to the public.

Primary care physicians are the first providers to identify concerns and encourage individuals to improve their health. But often there is not enough time to go into detail about how to cook and utilize food as medicine.

“Primary care physicians are the first providers to identify concerns and encourage individuals to improve their health. But often there is not enough time to go into detail about how to cook and utilize food as medicine,” said Wendi Schutte, clinical manager, Memorial Wellness Center. “We will partner with physicians and provide hands-on opportunities for individuals to learn to cook nutritious meals that taste great.”

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LMH Named Climate Champion

Lincoln Memorial Hospital was named a 2021 Climate Champion by Health Care Without Harm. As a participant in the international Health Care Climate Challenge, LMH is committed to reducing healthcare’s carbon footprint, preparing for the impacts of extreme weather and the shifting burden of disease and educating staff and the public while promoting policies to protect public health from climate change.

JMH Granted Critical Access Status

In May, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services officially designated Jacksonville Memorial Hospital as a critical access hospital. JMH began the application process for this designation, which was created by the federal government to allow small, rural hospitals to maintain their financial stability, in fall 2021. All departments and services lines will continue to provide high-quality care to JMH’s service area.

“Critical access designation allows JMH to continue to fulfill our mission while enjoying financial freedom to add services, update our facilities and better serve the region,” said JMH president and CEO Scott Boston, MD.

Swing Bed Program Creates Peace of Mind

Kelly Crawford’s family overcame a few unexpected medical challenges this year with the help of the Swing Bed program at Taylorville Memorial Hospital.

First, her father broke his hip and femur in a fall, requiring surgery. Shortly after, her stepdad had a heart attack and open-heart surgery. Both men needed rehab – and both got the care they needed at TMH.

Swing bed programs allow hospitalized patients to transition from acute care to skilled nursing care. Often, patients recovering from illness or surgery are discharged to nursing homes for short-term rehabilitation. Swing bed programs provide those services and help patients transition home without the need for a transfer. Within Memorial Health, both TMH and Lincoln Memorial Hospital offer swing bed services.

“The main thing was the therapy – getting up, getting down, moving around and being able to do things on my own that I couldn’t when I got injured,” said Kelly’s dad, Thomas Younker.

“It made me a lot stronger so I was able to go home,” Kelly’s stepdad, William Wilson, said. “If this program wasn’t available, I probably would’ve had to go to a nursing home to get rehab.”

“Everyone along the way was just very willing to help with what was needed or answer questions,” Kelly said. “We never once had to wait to get answers on anything. That made it much easier to go home at the end of the day and have the peace of mind that I could get an update.”

Collaboration Brings Project SEARCH to SMH

Twelve students from Springfield Public Schools District 186 spent 10 weeks working at Springfield Memorial Hospital as part of Project SEARCH, a transition-to-work program for students with significant intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Launched in 1996 at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Project SEARCH now has more than 600 sites worldwide. The District 186 program is the first in downstate Illinois.

Project SEARCH was five years in the making at District 186, said Raechel Haas, the Project SEARCH lead instructor. The program embeds older students with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 21 in jobs throughout the community. The goal is to help these students obtain competitive employment.

After several pandemic-related delays, Project SEARCH debuted in November 2021. The students attended job-skill classes every morning before heading to work in the SMH Emergency Department, surgery units, Central Supply, Sterile Processing, Food and Nutrition, Environmental Services and other areas throughout the hospital.

Our colleagues have been blown away by their abilities and what they bring to the departments.

“Our colleagues have been blown away by their abilities and what they bring to the departments,” said Jay Boulanger, volunteer services coordinator at SMH. “It was a time of high stress [during the pandemic], and there was some apprehension initially. It’s been neat to see the transformation on our teams from ‘How is this going to work?’ to ‘This is amazing!’”

“This is really a capstone for the students and their high school career,” Haas said. “This provides a transition for them from school to work. These students gain confidence and independence through this experience.”

TMH Recognized for Exceptional Care

In 2022, the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network recognized TMH for being in the top 10% of all critical access hospitals in the country for exceptional outpatient quality of care, specifically ED throughput and acute myocardial infarction measures.

Deepening the Work of EDI

In 2020, Memorial Health launched an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) initiative to help shape a welcoming and inclusive Memorial culture and ensure high-quality healthcare is accessible to all.

Since then, numerous agencies and governing bodies have encouraged and even required an intensified focus on equity and inclusion in healthcare. “We’ve seen a shift in how much information we are being asked to collect and analyze. We also have higher demands for education and support for colleagues,” said Valeria Cueto, vice president, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

The Illinois State Legislature passed a law requiring healthcare providers to receive at least one hour of implicit bias awareness training to renew their licenses beginning in 2023. For Cueto, this emphasis on education and professional development is vital and extends beyond a single training.

“Colleagues have a variety of backgrounds and needs, and we’re working very hard to create multiple spaces and opportunities for everyone to learn, grow and help form an inclusive culture here,” Cueto said.

In addition to providing training sessions for colleagues and leaders, the EDI team has hosted monthly conversations and panel discussions in the EDI Workplace group and also formed an EDI-specific book club. One of the titles the group read this year was “Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present” by Harriet A. Washington.

“Reading ‘Medical Apartheid’ was upsetting at times, but we need to know this history so we can effectively address inequities and openly address the mistrust that continues to impact people’s lives and well-being today,” Cueto said. “Analysis and learning are key steps that allow us to act deliberately and strategically to fulfil our mission.”

In May, Memorial Health project manager Sudhir Pai and his friends created a Rangoli artwork from colored chalk and sand powder in the Springfield Memorial Hospital Main Lobby. The display was part of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Memorial Health colleagues joined Pride celebrations in several local communities in June.

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In July, players competing at the Memorial Health Championship volunteered their time at a “Golf and Garden” event at Feitshans Elementary School, working in a community garden and helping kids learn about the sport of golf. The Memorial Health Championship is part of the Korn Ferry Tour, which offers an opportunity for rising golfers to compete for a spot on the PGA Tour. The event brings hundreds of spectators and competitors to Springfield, offering a boost to the local economy. Proceeds go to the five Memorial Health hospital foundations.

MH Honored for Crisis Management

In December 2021, Workplace from Meta presented MH with the Best Crisis Management Award in North America for implementing new ways to help colleagues stay connected and engaged during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Expanding Regional Access

In 2022, Memorial continued its investment in local communities by expanding its network of Memorial Care clinics. These locations provide a range of services including primary care, specialty care, urgent care, lab and imaging services and more.

In February, an annex to the Founders Medical Building opened on the Jacksonville Memorial Hospital campus, providing additional space for Memorial Care and Springfield Clinic providers. The new facility includes a state-of-the-art infusion center.
On Sept. 1, the Decatur Regional Chamber of Commerce joined Memorial Care leaders and Mohit Ajmeri, MD, for a ribbon-cutting celebrating the new Memorial Care clinic on West Hay Street in Decatur.
A new Memorial Care location is slated to open on Morton Avenue in Jacksonville in February 2023, bringing urgent care, lab and medical imaging services to the community.

Volunteers of All Ages

Volunteers at Memorial Health span a wide range of ages, from teenagers to seniors. These young volunteers at Decatur Memorial Hospital – Madeline Millard, Julia Shepard, Hasan Qidan, Lillie Pierson, Usman Quresh and Asanti Anderson – are gaining experience in health careers and helping their community.
Lincoln Memorial Hospital volunteer Ruth Kapik celebrated her 100th birthday alongside fellow volunteers at the Pink Shutter thrift shop on July 18. Ruth, a retired teacher, has volunteered at LMH for 42 years. “Every week there is something new and different to do,” she said.

Community Benefit

Community Health Needs Assessments and Implementation Strategies

Every three years, Memorial Health conducts Community Health Needs Assessments in collaboration with county health departments and other community health and social service providers. This in-depth process took place during 2021 and resulted in new Community Health priorities that will be addressed during FY22–24.

Detailed information on each hospital’s Community Health Needs Assessment and outcomes of the implementation strategies are available at memorial.health/about-us/community/communityhealth-needs-assessment.

Community Benefit 2022-2024 Priorities

Memorial Health

  • Mental Health

Decatur Memorial Hospital

  • Mental/Behavioral Health
  • Economic Disparities
  • Access to Health

Jacksonville Memorial Hospital

  • Mental Health
  • Obesity
  • Cancers

Lincoln Memorial Hospital

  • Youth Mental Health
  • Obesity
  • Substance Use

Springfield Memorial Hospital

  • Mental/Behavioral Health
  • Economic Disparities
  • Access to Health

Taylorville Memorial Hospital

  • Mental Health
  • Obesity
  • Lung Health
dollars in thousands

Memorial Health Ranked Among Top in the Nation for Giving

In 2021, Memorial Health was recognized as one of the top 25 nonprofit hospital systems in the nation whose spending on patient financial assistance and community investment exceeded the value of their tax exemptions.

The national ranking, known as the Lown Institute Hospitals Index, listed the Springfield-based health system as 15th in the nation for “fair share” surplus, meaning its patient financial assistance and community investment exceeded the total of its tax breaks. It was the only health system in Illinois to be listed among the top 25 nationwide.

“We believe we have a responsibility to be good stewards of our resources as we work toward our mission to improve lives and build stronger communities through better health,” said Ed Curtis, president and CEO of Memorial Health. “This national report shows our priorities are in the right place to fulfill that mission.”

The Lown Institute calculated the “fair share” spending for more than 1,800 hospitals across 275 nonprofit health systems based on their 2019 IRS Form 990 filings.

Partnering for Health

Memorial Health hospitals provide funding to community partners who are engaged in the work of improving health and increasing access to care.

Funded partnerships at a regional level include:

Shifting Into New Gear (SING) – This program was founded by Springfield resident Lynard Joiner in 2015. He was incarcerated for nearly 20 years and has devoted his life to supporting others in the complex process of reentry.
SING is currently supporting nearly 60 clients in their journey to reintegrate back into the community after being incarcerated, connecting them with resources to address the social determinants of health, such as housing, employment and mental healthcare, to lower recidivism – returning to prison – and ensure healthier communities and families where residents can fully integrate back into society.
An additional 25 clients receive ongoing check-ins after graduating the program. National recidivism rates are around 45%, but SING’s clients have a rate of only 5%.
Healthy Kids Running Series – Nearly 200 children registered to participate in the Healthy Kids Running Series in Sangamon, Morgan and Christian counties.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Illinois – BGCCIL expanded into Jacksonville and now serves students at 22 locations in Sangamon and Morgan counties.

Nutrition for Healing

Good nutrition is essential for healing. But if patients don’t have access to healthy food after they leave the hospital, they’re at greater risk for poor outcomes.

In 2022, Decatur Memorial Hospital addressed this need by launching a collaborative partnership with the Northeast Community Fund and the United Way to provide a two-day nonperishable meal kit to patients being discharged after a hospital stay. The kit was approved by dietitians to accommodate general and specialized diets. Case Management identifies patients who would benefit from receiving a kit using a screening tool in the electronic health record.

The program also connects patients with community resources to help reduce their risk for readmission.

Food insecurity can create additional stress for patients at a time when they need to be focusing on recovery.

"Food insecurity can create additional stress for patients at a time when they need to be focusing on recovery,” said Sonja Chargois, DMH community health coordinator. “By helping reduce that stress, we can improve their quality of life."

Partnering for Health in Macon County

Funded partnerships in the Decatur region include:

Salvation Army – With joint funding from HSHS St. Mary’s and DMH, the Salvation Army transitioned to a 24-hour care facility.
Catholic Charities Mobile Food Pantry – 652 rural households received 1,503 boxes (or a two-week supply) of food in the first 6 months of 2022.
SIMP, Inc. – 2,243 youth were engaged through the SIMP, Inc. Early Violence Prevention Program.

Increasing Access to Healthy Food

A program sponsored by Jacksonville Memorial Hospital has expanded community access to local, healthy food by allowing people to use Link cards at the Jacksonville Farmers Market.

Jacksonville Memorial Foundation trustees voted in February to provide a grant to support access to fresh food for families enrolled in the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which supplements the food budgets of families in need. The grant provides for staff to manage the booth where Link tokens are available. In addition, the hospital received a Link Up Illinois grant from Chicago-based nonprofit organization Experimental Station to double the value of Link card purchases made at the farmers market.

During the summer season, more than 350 local residents used their Link cards at the market. Those customers received $8,197 in match vouchers, totaling $10,618.

We’re providing access to healthy food to our community’s most vulnerable population.

“We’re providing access to healthy food to our community’s most vulnerable population,” said Lori Hartz, director of community health at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital. “In 2021, the Community Health Needs Assessment identified obesity as a top health concern in Morgan County, as it is a root cause of chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. One of the ways we are addressing obesity in Morgan County is by expanding access to the healthy foods available at our local farmers market.”

Partnering for Health in Morgan County

Funded partnerships in the Jacksonville region include:

Rock Steady Boxing – The Rock Steady Boxing program at the Bob Freesen YMCA hosts 17 boxers who are dealing with the effects of Parkinson’s disease.
Family Guidance Center – 543 patient screenings and hand-offs for services related to substance use disorder were provided from January to September 2022.
Morgan County STI Clinic – Morgan County STI Clinic saw a 40% increase in clients counselled (136 vs 189), as well as a significant increase in chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV tests completed.

Bicycle Friendly Designation Encourages Active Lifestyles

In 2022, Lincoln Memorial Hospital began working toward designation as a Bicycle Friendly Business. The designation, which is bestowed by the League of American Cyclists, recognizes businesses that provide incentives for employees to bicycle to work, participate in community bike trail efforts as well as organize community biking activities and education.

One of the health priorities identified by the 2021 Logan County Community Health Needs Assessment was obesity. LMH leaders hope that their efforts to encourage bicycling as a form of active transportation and recreation have a broad impact in Lincoln and beyond.

This designation not only aligns with our efforts to encourage healthy lifestyles, it also fits into LMH’s work to promote environmental sustainability.

“This designation not only aligns with our efforts to encourage healthy lifestyles, it also fits into LMH’s work to promote environmental sustainability,” said Angela Stoltzenburg, director of the LMH Community Health Collaborative.

In May, LMH hosted a bike rodeo for the community. Bikes are available on the LMH campus for colleague use, and leaders have installed bike racks and a bike repair station.

Taylorville Memorial Hospital and Jacksonville Memorial Hospital are also pursuing Bicycle Friendly designations.

“This is a great opportunity for LMH to lead by example,” Stoltzenburg said. “We hope to inspire other businesses and the entire community.”

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Positive Behaviors for Lung Health

Taylorville Memorial Hospital has partnered with Taylorville Junior High School to teach young people about the risks of e-cigarette use.

Catch My Breath is an evidence-based vaping prevention program funded by a Community Health Grant from the Taylorville Memorial Foundation. The program, which was introduced in 2021, is facilitated by Darin Buttz, TMH director of community health, and presented by teachers at the middle school.

The program takes a holistic approach and encourages voluntary changes, addressing total health in order to develop and maintain positive behaviors.

“The program takes a holistic approach and encourages voluntary changes, addressing total health in order to develop and maintain positive behaviors,” said Buttz. “Participants talk in small groups about the importance of physical activity, nutrition, enhancing their sense of self-control and improving life skills such as stress management, decision-making, coping and interpersonal skills.”

Lung health was identified as a top priority in the 2021 Christian County Community Health Needs Assessment.

During the 2021-22 school year, about 92 percent of students surveyed responded they were less likely to try vaping after participating in the Catch My Breath program. Several students who currently used e-cigarettes approached program organizers for help in quitting. In 2022, the curriculum expanded to include sessions offered during the school day for students who want to stop using e-cigarettes or other tobacco products.

The Foundation grant also supplied sensors that detect vapor given off by e-cigarettes. The sensors were installed at the junior high during the summer to discourage vaping in school facilities.

TMH wasn’t the only Memorial Health hospital to bring the Catch My Breath program to local students. Lincoln Memorial Hospital presented Catch My Breath to middle school students at Hartsburg-Emden and Lincoln Junior High School.

Coordinating to Address Homelessness

Memorial Health is among multiple organizations providing financial and planning support to Heartland HOUSED, a strategic plan to address homelessness in Sangamon County.

Heartland HOUSED (Housing Opportunities for the Under-Served through Equitable Delivery) seeks to create a collaborative, unified system to help people experiencing homelessness access the housing and support services they need.

Currently, 264 people are experiencing homelessness in Sangamon County on any given day, and around 750 people access services for the homeless annually. Each year, that number increases by about 155 people.

There are many factors that contribute to homelessness, including a lack of affordable housing, mental or physical health challenges, lack of income or a history with the legal system.

Becky Gabany, system director for community health at Memorial, serves on the steering committee for Heartland HOUSED. “There are many factors that contribute to homelessness, including a lack of affordable housing, mental or physical health challenges, lack of income or a history with the legal system,” she said. “We work to bring the resources of the entire community together to address those factors.”

One of the major strategies identified by Heartland HOUSED is increasing the supply of affordable supportive housing. Memorial Health has provided matching funds to help support 24 housing units through Helping Hands.

“The goal of Heartland HOUSED is to reduce homelessness to ‘functional zero’ by 2028,” Gabany said. “This means everyone who experiences homelessness is able to attain housing within 30 days. It’s a big goal, but collaboration and commitment can make it possible.”

Ricky Reese, who experienced homelessness, serves on the newly formed strategy board and shares his experience throughout the community.

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Partnering for Health in Sangamon County

Funded partnerships in the Springfield region include:

Co-responder Engagement Team (CoET) – MBH co-response model with the Springfield Police Department provided 552 interventions to 121 individuals.
Kumler United Methodist Church Pharmaceuticals Program – More than 300 prescriptions were provided to community members who could not afford them.
SIU Access to Health – Community Health Workers are working with 64 clients through the SIU Access to Health collaborative program jointly funded by HSHS St. John’s and Springfield Memorial Hospital.
MOSAIC – 243 clients provided with mental health services within their schools with 2,243 services provided and more than 60% of clients seeing improvement with two or more appointments.
Springfield Immigrant Advocacy Network (SIAN) – Approximately 1,200 culturally appropriate food deliveries made annually to more than 50 families/350 individuals.

MH Consolidated Statement of Operations

*FY2021 value restated from previous year’s annual report

dollars in thousands

*FY2021 value restated from previous year’s annual report

dollars in thousands

MH Operating Statistics

About Memorial Health

One of the leading healthcare organizations in Illinois, Memorial Health is a community-based, not-for-profit organization that provides a full range of inpatient, outpatient, home health, hospice, behavioral health and primary care physician services. With eight affiliates based in Sangamon and the neighboring counties, we deliver high-quality, patient-centered care in support of our mission to improve lives and build stronger communities through better health.

Decatur Memorial Hospital

DMH provides inpatient and outpatient care to residents of Macon County and the neighboring counties, offering a wide range of general and specialized diagnostic, surgical and treatment services.

Jacksonville Memorial Hospital

JMH is a critical access hospital in Jacksonville serving the residents of Morgan, Cass, Greene, Scott, Macoupin and portions of Brown and northern Pike counties since 1875. JMH provides inpatient and outpatient services and is designated a Magnet® hospital for nursing excellence.

Lincoln Memorial Hospital

LMH is a critical access hospital in Lincoln serving the people and communities of Logan and eastern Mason counties. LMH also offers a spectrum of outpatient rehabilitation, therapy and diagnostic testing.

Memorial Behavioral Health

Memorial Behavioral Health offers a continuum of behavioral healthcare and rehabilitation services for children and adults in Sangamon, Menard, Logan, Mason, Scott, Christian and Morgan counties.

Memorial Care

Memorial Care offers comprehensive primary care, urgent care, telehealth and other outpatient services in central Illinois locations in Beardstown, Chatham, Decatur, Jacksonville, Lincoln, Petersburg, Springfield and Sullivan.

Memorial Home Care

Memorial Home Care provides home health, hospice and medical equipment services across an 18-county region in central Illinois.

Springfield Memorial Hospital

SMH is an acute care Magnet® hospital (for nursing excellence) in Springfield that offers comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services to residents of 40 central and southern Illinois counties. Since 1970, SMH has been a teaching hospital affiliated with Southern Illinois University School of Medicine for the purpose of providing clinical training for residents.

Taylorville Memorial Hospital

TMH is a critical access hospital in Taylorville offering a full range of inpatient and outpatient services to residents of Christian County.

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Created By
Colleen Houston
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