Doing it Better Every Day
• Improving Our Processes
• New Procedures
• Capitalizing on Technology
• Introducing Specialized Services
• Fostering New Alliances
• Communicating Differently
• Planning For the Future
The Patient Experience These words are at the core of daily work at Southern Illinois Healthcare. When you or a loved one seek care at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, Herrin Hospital or St. Joseph Memorial Hospital, or any of our outpatient facilities you should leave feeling confident that you were in the best hands.
The patient experience is about a ceaseless quest…finding a better way to do things. These goals
are achieved in part through the implementation of a Service Excellence Initiative that transcends
through the entire SIH system. Besides having the state-of-the-art equipment and excellent technical
skills, it takes
The people who are Southern Illinois Healthcare chose their profession to make a difference.
One Of THe aSpeCTS We are MOST prOud Of
at SIH is the constant focus on improving the quality of care
provided in our hospitals and physician offices. The 3,300
employees of SIH strive to make our Mission more than mere
words on paper but a reality for the patients.
A week rarely goes by without conversation in the national
media about the changes needed in health care. At SIH,
we understand the need to evolve to meet the needs of
our patients far into the future. This year, we developed working relationships with other hospitals
and physician groups to prepare for this new world. It is imperative for providers to work more
closely together for us to continue to be successful. Inside our hospital walls, our employees are
empowered at a higher level than ever before to help identify and improve the daily processes of care
for our patients. These collaborative endeavors will help SIH meet the challenges in our future.
This report also highlights several of the innovative and advanced technological procedures SIH
invested in this past year. We are always striving to implement new ways of caring for our patients to
ensure they can undergo treatment and recovery close to home.
Despite all of these improvements and changes, one basic principle that has never wavered is our
desire to care for all who need help. In FY 2012, SIH hospitals and physicians provided over $10
million in charity care for uninsured patients requiring financial assistance to accept medical services.
We also continue to work with a wide variety of other agencies with a shared vision to improve the
health and well-being for all of the patients we serve.
We appreciate the loyalty shown to us by our patients and we will continue to earn that trust. The
following pages highlight a few of the steps we have taken to grow and provide new and better
services to our patients, friends and families in southern Illinois.
Rex P. Budde Steven R. Sabens
President/CEO Chairman, Board of Trustees
D o i n g i t B e t t e r e v e r y Day
By Improving our Processes
exCellenCe IS SOMeTHIng SOuTHern
Illinois Healthcare strives for daily. Whether it
be in quality, service, or operations, the goal is
to provide the best care for patients. This quest
for excellence does not happen by magic. It
takes constant refining and a collaborative work
environment between administrators, staff and
physicians. That’s where the LEAN Process and
the Service Excellence Initiative (SEI) come
into play.
The two work hand in hand. LEAN is a method
of streamlining processes to eliminate waste in
the workflow. SEI then engages and empowers
all employees to work on these processes that
ultimately result in a better patient experience--
results that are expected by the community.
MeMOrIal HOSpITal Of CarbOndale
Small changes made a huge impact in
Memorial Hospital of Carbondale’s Emergency
Department. By reinventing the process,
employees applied simple, but impactful
changes that streamlined everything from
registration and labs to restocking supplies—
resulting in the reduction of the typical patient visit to 2 hours— half the normal wait time.
Since the implementation of these changes
patient satisfaction scores immediately rose to
the 95th percentile.
HerrIn HOSpITal
By increasing workforce efficiency and
reducing workplace injuries, Herrin Hospital was able to reduce their workers’ compensation rate by 30%—a success that Herrin Hospital owes to its injury-prevention program. These rate
reductions enable SIH to give back more money
to patient care.
ST. JOSepH MeMOrIal HOSpITal
At St. Joseph Memorial Hospital, physicians
recognized the benefit of the collaborative
implementation of LEAN and Service
Excellence. This year, St. Joseph was one of only six U.S. hospitals to receive a Best Place to Practice Award® by Press Ganey. This honor
is reserved for hospitals that garnered
exceptionally high marks from physicians,
placing SJMH in the 95th percentile. Achieving
such a high score for physician satisfaction
reflects St. Joseph Memorial Hospital’s
commitment to providing outstanding care.
By living the principles of SEI and LEAN, SIH has
made great strides in creating a more pleasant
experience for each patient, and also taping into
its greatest asset—the people of SIH!
Nurses in Herrin Hospital’s Emergency Department report daily on processes and results to Administrator Terrence Farrell and his leaders.
D o i n g i t B e t t e r e v e r y Day
With New Procedures
Stopping esophageal Cancer in it Tracks
ST. JOSepH MeMOrIal HOSpITal has become the
master of same-day, endoscopic procedures for southern
Illinois, recently recognized by the American Society for
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. While the unit specializes in the
day to day preventative colonoscopies, doctors also perform
advanced procedures, such as radiofrequency ablation.
Barrett’s esophagus is a pre-cancerous condition, caused by
chronic, long-term acid reflux. According to gastroenterologist
and medical director, Dr. Zahoor Makhdoom, “Using an
endoscope, we apply a burst of heat energy (radio waves)
to destroy the cancerous cells.” This energy, delivered via a
catheter to the esophagus, removes diseased tissue while
minimizing injury to healthy esophagus tissue.
Studies show that once removed, this tissue is typically
replaced by normal, healthy tissue within weeks.
daVinci Opens new doors
MeMOrIal HOSpITal Of
CarbOndale’S daVinci surgical
system made its debut in 2011, but the
arrival of urologic surgeon, Dr. Srinivas
Rajamahanty, offered a new procedure
for southern Illinois – prostate removal.
Using daVinci’s enhanced visualization
gives physicians a closer view and is an
extension of their technique. According to
Rajamahanty, “Technology is becoming so
much more advanced that robotic prostate
surgery is quickly becoming the standard
of care. In my mind, there is no doubt that
the results of robotic surgery are better for
the patient.”
repairing Holes in the Heart
dOIng THe JOb beTTer IS OfTen a
matter of adding physicians with special skills.
Dr. Prasanna Kumar, Prairie Heart Institute
interventional cardiologist, is one of those
specialists. His expertise in repairing tiny holes in the heart using less invasive methods is allowing patients to stay home rather than travel to St. Louis or Springfield.
“It’s a common disorder,” he says, adding that
one in four adults actually has either a patent
foramen ovale or a strial septal defect, the two
conditions commonly known as a hole in the
heart.
Kumar says the most common disorders, the
PFOs, are present because the wall between the
two upper chambers of the heart fails to form
correctly. In the womb and in infants, two ridges
of tissue separate the chambers, but allow blood
to flow from one to another. After birth when
the lungs are fully formed and functioning, these
ridges in the heart normally grow to meet, seal
together and form what is called the septum.
However, 25 percent of the time they don’t seal,
leaving a gap or hole in the septum, often as
small as a few millimeters. Usually, this condition
goes unnoticed.
“If it doesn’t bother anyone, we don’t do
anything, and often we don’t look for it unless a
patient is having trouble,” Kumar explains.
He says the holes are often identified after
unexplained strokes or bouts with severe
migraine headaches. Sometimes, pharmaceutical
treatments including blood thinners can be
used to treat symptoms. However, Kumar says
studies have shown the best treatment is to
close the hole—an option, that until recently
meant hospital stays in large cities.
“Now people no longer have to travel far for this
kind of advanced care,” he says. “They can have
great outcomes right here.”
Kumar says the procedure takes as little as
30 minutes.
“Patients can get up after a few hours of bed
rest and they’re back to their normal routine the
next day,” he explains. “It is a very, very quick
recovery time.”
The outcomes are fantastic, says Kumar,
who has performed a growing number of the
procedures in the catheterization laboratory at
Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.
“Research has shown that there is a 40 to 70
percent reduction in the risk of future strokes
when you close the holes,” he explains.
Physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice nurses providing services at and admitting patients to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, Herrin Hospital and St. Joseph Memorial Hospital are not employees of the hospital. Physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice nurses exercise their own independent judgment regarding medical care and treatment and the hospital is not responsible for their actions.
Dave’s Story
daVe dunCan Had a feelIng that the day
would come, although he tried not to dwell on it.
“I knew the possibility was there, but I tried not
to think about it,” he said.
Even though he tried not to fret, “it” was still
there; the likelihood that he someday would be
facing prostate cancer. After all, his father had
suffered from the disease and his own primary
care physician had him on a “watch list” for
the disease for almost 10 years. With a family
history of the disease and knowing that nearly a
quarter million new cases of prostate cancer will
be diagnosed in the U.S. this year, Duncan had
cause for concern.
He underwent a prostate exam twice a year. A
test last summer indicated a higher-than-normal
PSA score, a measure of Prostate Specific
Antigen, which can indicate cancer. A referral to
a urologist for a biopsy led to the unwelcome,
but not unexpected news; prostate cancer.
Duncan had several options for treatment.
“I could have undergone chemotherapy or
radiation, could have had stents put in or I could
have it removed,” he recalled. “I know that those
people who have the treatments are not always
sure that the cancer is 100 percent gone. I knew
if the prostate was taken out, it would be gone,
so I decided at age 60, I didn’t need it anymore.”
He turned to urological surgeon Dr. Srinivas
Rajamahanty at the Center for Medical Arts
in Carbondale for the procedure. Even then,
Duncan had two choices for removal of his
prostate: traditional open surgery or an operation
utilizing the daVinci® surgical robot. Dr.
Rajamahanty is the only physician in southern
Illinois using the daVinci for urological surgeries,
including prostatectomy. After consultation with
the surgeon, Duncan chose the robotic option.
“Open surgery for prostate removal means
an incision from the belly button to the pubic
bone—about six inches—and long hospital stays
and recovery time,” Dr. Rajamahanty explains.
“The daVinci offers a lot of advantages over
that. It is a minimally invasive option, a type of
laparoscopic surgery.”
Additionally, the doctor says post-operative
recovery time is minimal. “We usually send
patients home the next day and they sometimes
can return to work in just a few days.”
Overall, with a skilled urological surgeon, the
daVinci improves all aspects of the surgical
experience. “The robot does not replace your
intuition as a surgeon or your knowledge,” Dr.
Rajamahanty explains. “It just helps you and you
can use it to your advantage for your patients.”
Duncan said the surgery was definitely better for
him.
“No surgery is easy, but this was the easiest choice,” he said, adding it wasn’t long after his operation that he, an avid outdoorsman, was back to hunting and fishing. In fact, just a few weeks after surgery he was catching fish on the lakes and rivers of Alabama.
“I would recommend this surgery,” he added.
“I’m back to just like before.”
Dr. Rajamahanty discusses prosate surgery with a patient.
New tools and technology often cause excitement in health care, because it ultimately means more efficiency and a better experience for the patient.
THe IMagIng deparTMenT at Herrin
Hospital is seeing benefits from a new digital
fluoroscopy unit, a form of x-ray that allows
surgeons to view deep structures of the body
in real time on a computer monitor. It helps
physicians evaluate a wide range of internal
functions and structures—especially in areas like
the intestines, stomach, bladder and the cardiac
muscle. Unlike regular x-ray, digital fluoroscopy
records a series of
images to a computer.
It yields a high
resolution digital image
that can be viewed
much like a movie of
what is happening
inside the body.
D o i n g i t B e t t e r e v e r y Day
Capitalizing on Technology
big Things Come in Small packages— The axera access device
One SMall TOOl deCreaSeS discharge
times and improves efficiency in the Memorial
Hospital of Carbondale cardiac catheterization
lab. During a heart cath, doctors access heart
arteries via an opening in the femoral (leg) artery.
In the past this meant a four to six hour recovery
monitoring that access point. Using the new
Axera Access Device to ensure closure of the
artery, patients are now discharged within an
amazing 60 minutes of the procedure.
bIOneSS: The BIONESS (pictured above) uses electrodes to stimulate leg
or hand muscles through a portable, wireless device controlled by a remote
control unit. The device compliments traditional therapy so the patient can
see quicker results. This rehab tool uses repetitive movements that teach the
healthy parts of the brain to relearn things it has forgotten.
lITegaIT: Often used for patients of stroke or
other serious injury, the LiteGait can lift patients
to standing positions, help correct their posture,
reduce the weight they must carry, provide good
balance, and coordinate leg movement.
SaebOflex: The SaeboFlex is a mechanical
type of glove that positions the wrist and fingers
to extend and grasp objects voluntarily and is
used to help patients recover from a neurological
accident such as stroke.
Several other emerging technologies advance the level of care for SIH rehabilitation Services.
In THe unITed STaTeS, approximately 8 million people suffer from chronic wounds; many
stemming from the increase in the number of those suffering from diabetes. In 2012, Southern
Illinois Healthcare answered the call for this specialized scope of care. Built on a nationally renowned
program, Healogics, the Center for Wound Healing is located inside St. Joseph Memorial Hospital
in Murphysboro and on the campus of Herrin Hospital. The program is all about offering solutions to
healing persistent and sometimes debilitating wounds.
Physicians and other wound specialists concentrate their efforts by using a variety of clinical
treatments and support services. This multi-disciplinary approach, along with state-of-the-art therapies such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy allows patients to see amazing results.
Patients suffering with issues such as, venous ulcers, bed sores or poor circulation due to diabetes
can expect an individualized treatment plan that ultimately improves their quality of life.
D o i n g i t B e t t e r e v e r y Day
Introducing Specialized Services
Doris’ Story
A terrible fall resulted in more than broken bones for Doris
Castleberry of Murphysboro. During her recovery, Doris
developed two bed sores, one on her heel, the other on her
lower back. “They were so painful—worse than my broken
hip,” she said. “I couldn’t walk.”
Confined to a wheelchair, Doris was referred to the new SIH
Center for Wound Healing in Murphysboro. “Her wounds
were very severe,” said Jennifer Sims, the Center’s program
director. But with an individualized plan, education and
patience, Doris was soon on the road to healing.
After four months, 82-year-old Doris is thrilled to be back up
and walking around. With help from the Wound Center team,
Doris made a full recovery. “My favorite thing to do now is to
go outside and enjoy the fresh air,” Doris said. “The people
at the Center for Wound Healing were such patient, nice
people,” said Doris. “I’d recommend them to anyone.”
The use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy is simple and painless. The dramatic effect it has on improving circulation to help wounds heal is quite remarkable.
D o i n g i t B e t t e r e v e r y Day
Fostering New Alliances
new friends
Collaboration took on a
greater meaning in 2012
as SIH entered into two
new affiliation agreements
with Harrisburg Medical
Center in Harrisburg, IL and
Marshall Browning Hospital
in DuQuoin, IL. This team
approach allows patients
in these communities,
particularly those with complex medical needs, to benefit from better coordination of care
and services through an expanded pool of specialists. “The affiliations allow SIH to work closely with the two facilities identifying gaps in care and determining how we can best fill those gaps.” said SIH President and CEO
Rex Budde.
Shawnee alliance resource Centers
For older adults, the transition from an inpatient hospital stay back to the community
requires some coordination. Through SIH’s partnership with Shawnee Alliance, a division
of Shawnee Health Services and Development Corp, SIH is now utilizing the Bridge
Model; a social work based transitional care model designed for older adults. Bridge
provides transitional care through intensive care coordination that starts in the hospital
and continues after discharge to ensure a safe “landing.”
Committing to Heart Care
Prairie Cardiovascular Consultants (PCC) and Southern Illinois
Healthcare have long worked together to provide excellent
cardiovascular care to the residents of Southern Illinois. Both
organizations share common mission and values, believing that cardiac
patients benefit substantially by this collaboration. With that in mind,
PCC and SIH signed a Professional Services Agreement with the goal
of continuing evolution of heart services in, and expanding patient
access to, comprehensive and coordinated cardiovascular care.
D o i n g i t B e t t e r e v e r y Day
Communicating Differently
According to a recent survey, 57% of consumers say “a hospital’s social media connections would strongly affect their decision to receive treatment.”
As the need for health information online
continues to grow, Southern Illinois Healthcare
is working to bring health care conversations to
patients — via social media.
The SIH Facebook page shares health resources,
myth busting facts, event photo galleries,
and even a joke or two from area doctors. Its
strength lies in the ability to quickly educate,
entertain and empower individuals to be
their own health care advocates. Personal
communication strengthens and preserves
relationships while providing a local health
resource for our communities online. For special
niche audiences, like childbirth, our Facebook
Birthing Center fan page creates an online
community, extending the patient experience
outside of hospital walls.
Improving the well being of the people in the
greater southern Illinois community has been a
longstanding priority for SIH and with YouTube,
Facebook and Twitter channels, healthy lifestyle
and disease prevention information are now
more accessible, personal and convenient.
Visit us Online:
D oi ng i t B e t t e r e v e r y Day
Planning For the Future
Sometimes life takes a wrong turn. Cancer
happens on its own timetable, not ours. At that
point, life as we know it is in upheaval. It is why
those of us who live in southern Illinois want
the best cancer care and services possible.
Quality, state-of-the-art care. Close to home. Convenient. Compassionate. That is the foundation for the SIH Hope Is Home fundraising campaign to build a new cancer center.
For far too long, many cancer patients and their
families have had the perception that they need
to travel long distances to receive the care they
require. That is a viewpoint we must – and
will – change with Hope Is Home. SIH has the
physicians, specialists, advanced technology,
expertise and nationally accredited care within
our healthcare system. With a new center,
patients and their families will greatly benefit
from having their providers under one roof.
Spearheaded by the SIH Foundation and a
volunteer committee that understands the
needs and benefits of the project, Hope is Home
continues to make strides every day towards our
$10 million fundraising goal.
Opportunities exist for one-time gifts or five year pledges. To become part of this facility that will save lives in southern Illinois, please visit www.sih.net/hopeishome.
D o i n g i t B e t t e r e v e r y Day
Building Healthier Communities
COMMunITY benefITS prOgraMS
Medicare $46,576,644
Medicaid $19,985,154
Charity Care $10,304,486
SIH unreIMburSed SerVICeS (COST)
Community Health Improvement $ 802,246
grants, Contributions, Sponsorships $350,039
Community building activity $552,816
TOTAL $80,603,966
SIH Community Benefit efforts and initiatives reach patients and
communities throughout the southern 16 counties of Illinois.
SIH Community Benefits reaches beyond the boundaries of our hospitals’ walls and
enriches the health and well being of patients, children and their families in 16 counties.
Last year alone, SIH provided charity care to over 14,000 uninsured patients requiring
financial assistance in accessing medical services. Through the work in our hospitals,
clinics and our collaborative efforts with schools, health departments, churches and
other community partners, SIH impacts the lives of over 300,000 individuals on an
annual basis.
Fast Facts
research $75,391
Medical education $1,957,190
D oi ng a l l o f t h i s f o r yo u
Coordinated School Health
CATCH on to Health! reaches 15,000 students and
their families to help make physical activity and healthy
eating a part of their daily lives.
Health Ministry
Improves care coordination through the training and
support of 75 active Faith Community Nurses and Parish
Nurses in 50 church congregations and two faith-based
community agencies across a nine county region.
blood related Illness referral Service
Provides access for patients with HIV, Hepatitis, Sickle Cell
anemia or other blood-related illnesses. While these patients
received specialty care for these specific illnesses, their
primary care needs were not being met.
Medical legal partnership
Addresses the legal, financial and social needs
of patients and families required for them to
improve their health.
Oral Health access
Increases access to dental services
via a referral process through
SIH emergency physicians to
community partners providing care.
MissionWe are dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all of the people in the
communities we serve.
ValuesRespect
Recognizing and valuing the dignity and uniqueness of each person
IntegRItyAdhering to strong moral and ethical principles in all we do
compassIonResponding to the feelings and needs of each person
with kindness, concern and empathy
collaboRatIonCommunicating and working with others for the benefit of all
stewaRdshIpResponsibly using, preserving and enhancing our human and material
resources as a not for profit community controlled organization
accoUntabIlItyHolding ourselves and those around us responsible for living the Values and
achieving the Vision of Southern Illinois Healthcare
QUalItyStriving for excellence in all we do