Memorial Medical Center launches Advanced Hernia Center, partners with SIU HealthCare and Springfield Clinic

Memorial Medical Center has launched the Memorial Advanced Hernia Center to assist patients facing complex hernia cases. Dr. John Mellinger, a surgeon with SIU HealthCare, and Dr. James Fullerton, a surgeon with Springfield Clinic, serve as co-medical directors of the Memorial Advanced Hernia Center. “The concept behind the Memorial Advanced Hernia Center is to offer patients a comprehensive, multidisciplinary and outcome-focused approach to their hernia, including the related conditions and health issues that often accompany and contribute to hernia formation,” Mellinger said. The physician-referral center has 12 SIU HealthCare and Springfield Clinic surgeons, including the two co-medical directors, who will see patients. “There are all different kinds, shapes and forms of hernias,” Fullerton said. “Some of them can be very complex; they may have been repaired before on multiple occasions, aren’t healing properly, are infected or may involve bowel perforations. These are the kinds of complex cases that our surgeons are committed to repairing so we can strengthen the quality of hernia care in central Illinois.” The center provides a multidisciplinary approach including specialized services such as bariatrics, pulmonary, plastics, diabetic management, smoking cessation, physical therapy, advanced wound and stoma care, nutrition counseling and pain management. The center participates in the American Hernia Society Quality Collaborative, which seeks to improve hernia care delivered to patients through patient-centered collection data, ongoing performance feedback to clinicians, and improvement based on analysis of collected data and collaborative learning. For more information, call 1-844-3HERNIA or visit MemorialAdvancedHerniaCenter.com.

Horace Mann, HSHS St. John’s Hospital to open LeadWell Health Clinic for employees

Horace Mann and HSHS St. John’s Hospital have teamed up with HSHS Medical Group, the HSHS physician organization, to open an employer-sponsored health clinic in Springfield. When the clinic opens in early 2016, it will be located at 850 E. Madison St. – squarely between the two businesses’ campuses – in the HSHS Central Illinois Division (CID) building. The clinic will be open to Horace Mann and St. John’s Hospital employees and their insured dependents at little or no cost, depending on the services needed. At a time when health care reform continues to evolve and costs continue to rise, employers are looking for ways to keep their workforce healthy while lowering health care costs. St. John’s Hospital is committed to improving the health of the community, including the colleagues responsible for providing care. “With a shared clinic nearby, sick and injured colleagues can seek treatment immediately instead of taking time off and scheduling a doctor’s appointment – or worse – ignoring their symptoms,” said Charles Lucore, MD, president and CEO of St. John’s Hospital. Mary Starmann-Harrison, Hospital Sisters Health System president and CEO, shared this about the employer-sponsored clinic, “This clinic model is an innovative concept administered by HSHS Medical Group to offer local businesses easy access to high-quality health care. In this case, Horace Mann and St. John’s Hospital have partnered to pool our resources and open a shared clinic to benefit both workforces.” HSHS Medical Group plans to open additional LeadWell clinics in Springfield and throughout Illinois in the coming year. “Opening our first Springfield location with two of the city’s largest employers demonstrates the significant impact a LeadWell clinic will have on health care savings,” said Melinda Clark, HSHS Medical Group CEO. “Our goal is for other businesses to realize improved employee health and overall health care cost savings. We expect continued growth because of the countless advantages both to employers and their employees.”

Springfield Clinic Announces SC GIVES Winter Recipient

Youth Service Bureau was named the winter recipient of SC GIVES. Springfield Clinic chose the organization as the final recipient in 2015 because of their commitment to and focus on youth and their families in our community.Springfield Clinic is donating items needed for their Homeless Youth Program including a large collection of personal care items, body wash, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, 21 bed sheet sets and more than 40 pillows; cooking pans and utensils; and a wide selection of board games and DVDs. Since its creation in 1977, Youth Service Bureau has focused on providing comprehensive services to youth and their families aimed at the preservation of the family unit. Youth Service Bureau offers many programs to help families and youth in need. In 2014, Youth Service Bureau provided services to 1,757 youth and their family members. This nonprofit was selected from among more than 100 nominations received since the SC GIVES program launched on Jan. 1, 2015.

SIU expands Telehealth clinics at Mason District Hospital

Patients in the Havana area now have access to a new way to see the doctor: telemedicine. Southern Illinois University School of Medicine’s Office of Telehealth and Clinical Outreach has brought clinical telehealth services to patients of Mason District Hospital in Havana. Through telehealth services, patients can visit Springfield-area medical providers using videoconferencing technology at Mason District Hospital instead of having to travel to Springfield. Patients will have access to more than 15 specialties. SIU Telehealth providers also deliver second opinions, follow-up care and consultative services to patients who have undergone or will undergo general or vascular surgery or who have suffered a trauma or stroke. In most services, insurance covers the cost of care or patients self-pay. Mason District Hospital officials expect that more than 10,000 people will have access to the services. Mason District Hospital serves Mason and Fulton counties and more than 30,000 people. Telehealth, also known as telemedicine, is the remote delivery of health care services and clinical information using telecommunications technology. Patients wishing to access telehealth should work through their local physician or SIU HealthCare at 217-545-8000. For a complete list of SIU Telehealth services, visit www.siumed.edu/telehealth.

Marshall Clinic Effingham, SC to merge with Springfield Clinic in 2016

Marshall Clinic Effingham, SC recently announced plans to merge with Springfield Clinic, effective Jan. 1, 2016. Marshall Clinic’s medical team is currently comprised of nine doctors and eleven advanced practitioners offering primary and specialty care in family medicine, dermatology, general surgery, obstetrics and pediatrics. The group includes Dr. Robert Frost, Dr. Jeffrey Jenson, Dr. Hope Knauer, Dr. David Kowalski, Dr. Lisa Kowalski, Dr. Jennifer Maneja, Dr. Jason McAllaster, Dr. Tina Rozene and Dr. Lana Schmidt. “The practice of medicine has evolved dramatically over the past several years, and it has become increasingly complex to manage an independent medical practice like ours,” said Jason McAllaster, DO, spokesperson for the local physician group. “We carefully evaluated several regional partnership prospects and are confident that joining Springfield Clinic is the best choice for our patients and practice.”

In addition to its headquarters in Effingham, Marshall Clinic has served the region through a network of satellite offices in Altamont, Louisville, Neoga, Newton and Stewardson. The merger will establish Effingham and Marshall Clinic’s five regional offices as Springfield Clinic’s southernmost satellites in its service region. In addition to more than 15 medical offices in its Springfield hub, Springfield Clinic provides patient care through more than a dozen satellite offices extending from Lincoln to Hillsboro, and Decatur to Macomb. Current patients of Marshall Clinic can expect continuity of their medical care following the Jan. 1 merger. All Marshall Clinic medical offices will remain in their current locations, all local phone numbers will remain the same and all Marshall Clinic doctors and staff will join the Springfield Clinic team.  Springfield Clinic will honor all Marshall Clinic’s current in-network insurance plans. Because the Springfield-based group is contracted with several additional health plans not currently accepted at Marshall Clinic, local patients will have greater access and additional coverage options. Both Marshall Clinic and Springfield Clinic utilize the same electronic health record system (Allscripts TouchWorks), which will allow for the seamless portability of current patient records, as well as the same patient portal (FollowMyHealth), which allows patients to conveniently and securely ask for prescription refills, request an appointment or send messages directly to their doctor’s office. Minor changes, including signage at all six locations, can be expected as the group prepares for the Jan. 1 transition. After the merger, patients can contact any Springfield Clinic location by calling 217-528-7541 or toll free at 800-444-7541.

“All of us at Springfield Clinic are excited to welcome the physicians, staff and patients of Marshall Clinic to our network of care,” said Randy Bryant, Springfield Clinic’s chief executive officer. “We have been very impressed with the high quality care and exceptional service delivered by the Marshall Clinic team. They will make excellent partners in our growing health care organization.”    

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