Dear Friends,
The Memorial Health mission commits us to improving lives and building stronger communities through better health. In this annual report, you’ll read about the many ways we are doing that, from stories of individual hope and healing, to initiatives that positively affect the health of the entire region.
Fulfilling our mission is about much more than treating patients within the walls of our hospitals and clinics. It’s about educating and empowering talented young people to become the next generation of healthcare professionals. It’s about acknowledging our patients’ unique needs and life experiences while recognizing how these circumstances impact their overall well-being. And it’s about ensuring everyone in our service area has access to high-quality care, whether they live in a rural community or a larger city.
The past year offered many reminders of the strength and resilience of the people and communities we serve. We are proud to call central Illinois home, and we remain dedicated to making our region a healthier place for everyone.
Nursing Education Partnerships Benefit Memorial Health, Entire Region
Healthcare organizations across the nation and around the region are facing a critical nursing shortage, which many experts say will only become more acute in coming years.
Memorial Health is addressing the issue by helping to expand nursing educational programs in central Illinois, giving more students the opportunity to thrive in nursing and related careers. Memorial has forged five academic expansion partnerships in our ten-county service region, each with a unique focus but with the shared goal of increasing access to nursing education and expanding the number of nurses practicing in central Illinois.
“The need to invest in the next generation of nurses and other healthcare professionals is essential to enable Memorial to achieve our mission and vision,” said Marsha Prater, PhD, chief nursing officer emerita. Prater retired as Memorial Health CNO in 2023 but has continued her work to strengthen relationships between Memorial and its many academic partners in the region.
ADDRESSING BARRIERS
Over the past several years, colleges and universities have been forced to create wait lists for their nursing programs due to insufficient faculty, facility space and clinical partners. Funding and support from Memorial Health has enabled academic partners to expand their programs, significantly reducing wait lists for students interested in becoming registered nurses.
Another focus of the partnerships is addressing barriers for students with financial needs. Fifty percent of the funding for these partnerships goes directly to scholarship funds for students.
Thanks to this support, the five academic partners of Memorial Health have been able to increase the number of students enrolled in nursing programs across central Illinois by more than 300.
“For us, it’s about more than just recruitment of nurses for Memorial, it’s about creating nurses for the region,” Prater said, adding that these students are likely to stay in central Illinois to begin their healthcare careers—whether that’s at Memorial or another local healthcare organization.
RECRUITMENT BENEFITS
Today, 66 percent of new nurses hired at Memorial are graduates of one of these five programs.
Nearly 700 nursing students complete clinical rotations at Memorial sites of care each year. This includes not only students from the five academic expansion partners, but also from a variety of other colleges and universities across the state and beyond.
Katherine Beveridge, system director, Talent Acquisition, said that students completing learning experiences at Memorial often give positive feedback on the technology and high-quality care facilities available within the system, as well as the mentorship and support they received from current colleagues.
She added that Memorial is unique among healthcare organizations in the region and nationwide in pursuing nursing education partnerships.
“It’s what we need to do to meet the demands of the labor market we’re in,” she said. “By prioritizing these partnerships and giving local students more opportunities, we can solve some of the challenges we’re seeing within the healthcare industry.”
EXPANDING HORIZONS
In addition to partnering with nursing schools, Memorial is also working with grade schools and high schools around the area to help students learn about the types of healthcare careers available—not only nursing, but other high-demand roles like surgical techs and medical lab scientists.
“We look at this as part of our community stewardship responsibility,” Prater said. “As a community healthcare organization, we need to ensure we have a highly trained workforce to provide great patient care now and for many years to come.”
Memorial Health Academic Expansion Partnerships
- University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing—created a new Springfield regional campus at UIS accommodating 64 graduates annually
- Lincoln Land Community College—expanded annual nursing program enrollment by 90 students
- Richland Community College—tripled the number of qualified students for enrollment in nursing and healthcare programs
- Illinois State University/Mennonite College of Nursing—created a new Springfield campus accommodating 64 graduates annually
- Illinois College Nursing Program—expanded facilities, faculty and student support with an aggressive goal of increasing graduates to 100 over the next five years
Certified Medical Assistant Cohorts for Memorial Colleagues
In 2024, Lincoln Land Community College and Memorial Health began offering training and certification prep courses specifically for Memorial colleagues interested in becoming certified medical assistants.
The cohorts, which are for colleagues living in the LLCC district, offer classes, simulations, certification exam review and the certification exam in the evenings, allowing students to continue to work in their current roles while gaining new skills. Participants are selected via a competitive interview process, and financial aid is available.
Colleagues who successfully complete the cohort and earn certification can transfer into a medical assistant role at a Memorial Health location.
“We have many colleagues who are interested in furthering their education, but they need the flexibility to continue working at the same time,” said Stacey Hull, manager, Workforce Planning and Development. “This partnership with LLCC helps us give them that opportunity while expanding our team of certified medical assistants.”
Patient Crafts Poem Praising Exceptional Stroke Care at SMH
After Nancy Bork suffered a stroke, she was grateful for the care she received at Springfield Memorial Hospital—so grateful that she wrote a six-page poem about her experience.
SMH is designated a Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Joint Commission because of its highly qualified physicians in key medical specialties and its ability to provide expert, round-the-clock care for the most complex stroke patients.
The Jacksonville Memorial Hospital outpatient rehabilitation team also received high marks from the 73-year-old for helping her return to normal activities upon returning home to Jacksonville.
A FAMILY HISTORY
It was a Saturday afternoon in August 2023 when Nancy suffered a stroke in her kitchen while preparing for company that night. Her mother had suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage when she was 48 that required two brain surgeries and left her paralyzed on one side with a limited vocabulary. Nancy had always suspected she, too, would experience a stroke as she aged. She is grateful for a more positive outcome.
“I know how lucky I am to be able to leave after a very short stay and great care,” she wrote. “With thanks and gratitude to the doctors, nurses, techs, therapists, dietary, housekeeping and social service. I just hope I haven’t left anyone out.”
A SAFE RETURN HOME
At SMH, Nancy worked with physical therapists four times a day for more than a week before being discharged. Her goal was to become steadier on her feet when walking and going up and down stairs.
As she improved, the therapists created an obstacle course for her to maneuver, placing large wooden blocks on her path to step over while maintaining her balance.
Meanwhile, her swallowing was slightly impeded. After she returned home, the speech therapist at JMH used an electric stimulator to work with Nancy on the swallowing reflexes, which she practiced three times a week over lunch. She also worked with physical therapists, riding the stationary bike to improve balance and working with large rubber bands to increase strength.
“I’ve had two knees replaced and did my physical therapy there, so it felt like coming home,” she said of the JMH physical therapy department. “The vibe is always friendly and positive in that great big room.”
Today, she has resumed all her daily activities with no speech or mobility deficits. Her memories of the stroke are punctuated with a sweet celebration held in the hospital after her condition had improved.
She and her husband Larry celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary on the therapy unit at SMH with an orange juice toast and Nothing Bundt Cake. After they enjoyed their cake, they shared the rest with the nurses at the nursing station. It was a moment to cherish.
Memorial Hospitals Recognized for Stroke Care
In 2024, Springfield Memorial Hospital and Decatur Memorial Hospital were again honored by the American Heart Association for excellence in stroke care.
SMH received the Gold Plus, Honor Roll Elite and Stroke Advanced Therapy Awards Get With The Guidelines—Stroke quality achievement awards. DMH received the Gold Plus quality achievement award for stroke care and was named to the Get With The Guidelines—Stroke Honor Roll.
All five Memorial Health hospitals hold special designations for high-quality stroke care. SMH is designated as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, the highest recognition for stroke care given by The Joint Commission. DMH is a Primary Stroke Center, while Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, Lincoln Memorial Hospital and Taylorville Memorial Hospital are all recognized by the Illinois Department of Public Health as Acute Stroke-Ready hospitals.
Memorial Health Hospitals Mark Affiliation Anniversaries
In 2024, three Memorial Health hospitals marked milestone anniversaries of their affiliations with Memorial Health.
Lincoln Memorial Hospital celebrated 30 years of affiliation on Sept. 24. At the time of affiliation in 1994, LMH was a 66-bed hospital that primarily offered inpatient services. Today, LMH is nationally recognized as a leading critical access hospital that is attuned to the needs of its community.
LMH president and CEO Dolan Dalpoas, who was beginning his career at LMH as a physical therapist in 1994, recalled uncertainty from coworkers and the community about changes that the affiliation plans might bring.
“What resonated with me was hearing representatives from Memorial Health, including a younger Ed Curtis, say things like, ‘Yes, things are going to change, they always do. But we’re all in this together. We have the same mission to improve people’s health. We care deeply about that, and that will never change,’” Dalpoas said in a message to LMH colleagues on the 30th anniversary.
Jacksonville Memorial Hospital marked 10 years since their affiliation became official on April 1.
“Bringing our organizations together was a complex process with many opportunities for growth and learning,” said Memorial Health president and CEO Ed Curtis. “I’m proud that today both JMH and Memorial Health are stronger thanks to the affiliation.”
Oct. 1 was the five-year anniversary of Decatur Memorial Hospital joining Memorial Health.
In a joint message to DMH colleagues, Curtis and DMH president and CEO Drew Early said, “The continued strength of DMH is crucial to Memorial’s long-term vision to be the healthcare provider of choice in central Illinois. As we celebrate five years of partnership, it’s exciting to look ahead and envision what we can achieve in the years to come.”
DMH Provides Expanded Care to the Community
In 2024, as Decatur Memorial Hospital marked its five-year anniversary with Memorial Health, it continued to step up to meet the growing needs of Decatur and Macon County.
“We are taking care of more patients than ever before,” said DMH president and CEO Drew Early, noting that inpatient days of care and discharges, metrics that hospitals use to measure the volume of patients being treated over time, are both rising steadily.
CARE WHEN SECONDS COUNT
This increase is due, in part, to the fact that the number of patients admitted to DMH from the Emergency Department has nearly doubled over the past year. In November 2023, DMH became the Emergency Medical Services Resource Hospital for Decatur, providing education, training and licensure supervision for local EMS providers. This partnership, which helps ensure a smooth transfer of care between the ambulance and the ED, has led to an increase in the number of trauma and emergency patients arriving at DMH, which is designated as a Level 2 Trauma Center.
“This is an example of us showing up for the community and helping take care of patients before they even arrive at our hospital,” Early said. “It’s an opportunity for us to work closely with EMS providers to make sure we’re providing high-quality care at every stage of emergency treatment.”
DMH is expanding care to the entire region as well. Thanks to the work of a project team focused on improving the transfer experience, smaller community hospitals and critical access hospitals in the area are transferring larger numbers of patients who require intermediate or intensive care to DMH.
HELPING FAMILIES GROW
DMH Family Birth Center has been the sole provider of labor and delivery care in Decatur since spring 2023, and colleagues on the unit have continued to ensure local families get the care they need even as the number of births at the hospital has nearly doubled. DMH has expanded its OB nursing team and instituted OB hospitalist staffing to ensure that a physician with specialized expertise in labor and delivery is on duty around the clock.
“We are being called upon to do more for the community than ever,” Early said. “I’m proud of how we’ve stepped up to do that. All our success over the past few years has been thanks to the great colleagues and medical staff we have here at DMH. Their commitment to our patients and our community is making a difference in people’s lives every day.”
Hospitals Seek Perspectives on Maternity Care
Last year, Springfield Memorial Hospital Family Maternity Suites and Decatur Memorial Hospital Family Birth Center sought feedback on the birth experience from families who have welcomed a baby at SMH or DMH during the past two years.
These efforts were part of both units’ Birth Equity Initiatives, aligned with a statewide campaign led by the Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative that aims to address racial disparities in maternal mortality and pregnancy and childbirth complications. All Illinois hospitals with labor and delivery units can participate. DMH and SMH will use the feedback they collected to assess how well they are caring for all patients, regardless of race, life circumstances or other factors.
“It’s crucial we deliver high-quality care to everyone,” said SMH Family Maternity Suites nurse manager Kathryn Patrick. “Getting feedback and input from the people we serve is one way we can make sure we’re doing that.”
Three Leaders Promoted to CEO Roles
Three Memorial Health leaders were promoted to chief executive officer roles in 2024.
Jay Roszhart, previously president of the Memorial Health Ambulatory Group, was named president and CEO of Springfield Memorial Hospital. In this role, he also continues to lead Memorial Behavioral Health.
Jay began his full-time career at Memorial Health in 2009 as an administrative fellow and has held progressively increasing responsibilities in the areas of case management, population health, managed care and care coordination, culminating in his leadership of Memorial’s ambulatory services, including Memorial Behavioral Health, Memorial Care, Memorial Specialty Care and Memorial Home Care. He has a master’s degree in healthcare administration from the Saint Louis University School of Public Health and a bachelor’s degree in molecular and cellular biology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Kim Beggs was named president and CEO of Memorial Medical Group.
Beggs joined Memorial Health in 2000. She has more than 20 years of leadership experience within Memorial Health’s ambulatory service lines, including as system administrator for primary care. She has a bachelor of science degree in public relations from Illinois State University and a master of business administration degree from Benedictine University. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and Medical Group Management Association, and is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
Henry Hurwitz, who previously served as system administrator for population health as well as leader of Memorial Home Hospice and Memorial Home Care, added CEO of Memorial Home Care to his title with the addition of Memorial Home Medical Supply to his area of responsibility.
Hurwitz earned a bachelor of science degree in exercise science from Illinois State University and a master’s degree in health administration from Saint Louis University. He is a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Four Executives Honored by Becker’s Hospital Review
Four Memorial Health executives were honored by Becker’s Hospital Review during 2024.
Dolan Dalpoas, president and CEO of Lincoln Memorial Hospital, and Kim Bourne, president and CEO of Taylorville Memorial Hospital, both appeared on the 2024 list of “Critical Access Hospital CEOs to Know.” Springfield Memorial Hospital vice president and chief nursing officer Jen Bond was named a 2024 “Chief Nursing Officer to Know,” while Valeria Cueto, vice president, Equity and Experience, was recognized as a "Hispanic and Latino Leader to Know."
“Memorial Health benefits from the vision, commitment and expertise of our leadership team,” said Ed Curtis, president and CEO of Memorial Health. “These honors are a reflection not only of the strong leadership of Dolan, Kim, Jen and Valeria, but also the overall strength of leadership across our organization.”
Sixty Years of Service
During Colleague Service Anniversary Week in October 2024, Decatur Memorial Hospital honored patient experience assistant Juanita Cruz Simpson for her 60 years of service to DMH and the entire Decatur community. Juanita is not only the longest-serving current colleague at DMH, but also the entire Memorial Health organization.
Foundations Support New Beds at SMH, TMH
Support from the hospital foundations helped Springfield Memorial Hospital and Taylorville Memorial Hospital upgrade patient beds in 2024.
The Springfield Memorial Foundation donated more than $1.4 million to purchase new beds. In March, SMH received 50 new medical-surgical beds for the inpatient nursing units. A second delivery of 60 medical-surgical beds and 20 intensive care beds occurred in late September. At the same time, TMH received 27 new inpatient beds for the Acute Care unit, with $300,000 in funding provided from the Taylorville Memorial Foundation.
The new beds have upgraded patient safety features, including alerts that let nursing teams know if there are changes to the side rails or bed position.
Year of Growth in Cardiology for Memorial Specialty Care
For Memorial Specialty Care, cardiology, 2024 was a year of growth. The practice welcomed a new general cardiologist, cardiac electrophysiologist and interventional cardiologist this year, plus an advanced practice registered nurse specializing in electrophysiology.
Memorial Specialty Care also partnered with DMH to upgrade the hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab, including an array of new technology. With the help of those upgrades, cardiac electrophysiologist Bernard Lim, MD, PhD, performed the first atrial fibrillation ablation procedure at DMH. Previously, patients had to travel to Springfield or another community for this procedure and any follow-up care.
IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE
The first patient to undergo the procedure at DMH was longtime Decatur internal medicine physician Stephen Goetter, MD, who said that following a smooth recovery he is now experiencing less fatigue. “It’s a good procedure that can be handled very well in Decatur without going to a larger community,” he added.
Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is a condition that causes an irregular heartbeat and can increase the risk for stroke, heart failure and other serious complications. It affects 2.7 to 6.1 million people in the U.S. each year, causing about 450,000 hospitalizations.
Atrial fibrillation ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a thin, flexible catheter inserted into a blood vessel to treat an irregular heartbeat. It is often used in patients who do not respond to medication for AFib.
“Atrial fibrillation ablation can greatly improve quality of life for some people with AFib, including reducing chest discomfort, shortness of breath and fatigue,” said Dr. Lim.
EXPANDING CARE OPTIONS
“This is a great example of how physician expertise and hospital resources come together to provide high-quality care for our community,” said Kimberly Paskiewicz, system administrator for specialty services at Memorial Health. “We’re very excited about the growth of Memorial Specialty Care Cardiology and plan to continue expanding the services we offer here in Decatur.”
Ensuring a Safe Transition from Hospital to Home
A car transfer simulator allows LMH swing bed patients like Carol Barger, seen here, to practice the mobility skills they need to return home safely.
Atlanta resident Raymond Jones, 76, struggles with balance issues and frequent falls because of Lewy Body dementia. After breaking his shoulder in several places, Raymond underwent surgery at Springfield Memorial Hospital before transferring to the Lincoln Memorial Hospital swing bed program for care closer to home.
The Swing Bed programs at LMH and Taylorville Memorial Hospital allow patients extra time to recover following a hospital stay while benefiting from around-the-clock access to nursing care, lab, imaging and other services. This includes physical therapy to ensure patients have the mobility and skills they need to return home safely.
IMPROVING MOBILITY
In November 2023, the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network awarded LMH its annual Impact Award for a project to improve the mobility of swing bed patients like Raymond.
The project, which was spearheaded by lead physical therapist Amy Knox and included colleagues from across the hospital, was implemented in early 2023. Within five months, the percentage of Swing Bed patients who met or exceeded the expected risk-adjusted mobility score improved from 8.2 percent to 89.5 percent. This improvement in mobility led to an increase in the number of patients who were able to go home after discharge instead of to a skilled nursing facility.
SHARED GOALS
One of the keys to this success was establishing a shared mobility goal with the patient, their family and the nursing team. Support from the Lincoln Memorial Foundation also allowed LMH to purchase specialized equipment for physical therapy, including uneven surfaces for gait training and a simulator that allows patients to practice getting in and out of a car.
“That’s the advantage of a swing bed unit,” Knox said. “We can create a culture of mobility for our patients, increase family involvement and utilize equipment for the physical therapy team to simulate tasks the patients will need to do to safely return to home.”
Lincoln Memorial Foundation Receives $1 Million Donation from Peacock Estate
The estate of longtime philanthropists Henry “Saf” and Florence Elizabeth “Betty” Funk Peacock donated $1 million to the Lincoln Memorial Foundation, a culmination of decades of support of Lincoln Memorial Hospital during their 67 years of marriage.
“Lincoln Memorial Hospital exists for one reason—to improve lives and build stronger communities through better health. This extraordinary gift will help fulfill that mission for generations to come,” said LMH President and CEO Dolan Dalpoas. “It is humbling to be remembered by the Henry Safford Peacock estate, and we will do our best to honor Saf and Betty through our efforts.”
MLC Honored for Simulation Excellence
Memorial Health was one of 34 hospitals and health systems in the United States honored by Becker’s Hospital Review for having a great simulation and education program in 2024. The Memorial Learning Center, located on the campus of Springfield Memorial Hospital, is home to multiple simulation facilities and surgical skills labs. The simulation center features 10 simulated learning environments in 16,000 square feet, including patient care rooms, an operating room, ambulance and patient home to give providers an experience more like the real world.
Memorial Health Recognized for Sustainability
In September 2024, Memorial Health was honored for environmental sustainability excellence by Vizient, Inc. Memorial was named the top performer in the category of Large Specialized Complex Care Medical Center.
The award recognizes healthcare organizations whose supply chains have a positive impact on human and environmental health by purchasing products and medical supplies that are sustainably manufactured. The Memorial Health supply chain team provides more than 70,000 different individual items necessary to care for patients.
“We know that the health of our environment affects the health of our communities and the people we serve,” said Erin Bromley, vice president, Supply Chain. “Sustainability is one of the factors we consider when making decisions about what type of products we use. We’re proud that our commitment to environmental health has received nationwide recognition.”
North Dirksen Urgent Care Becomes SIU Medicine FQHC
In June, Memorial Health transferred urgent care services at Memorial Care on North Dirksen in Springfield to SIU Medicine. SIU Medicine now operates the urgent care clinic at that location as a federally qualified health center (FQHC), while Memorial Care continues to provide primary care and other services.
FQHCs receive federal funding that allows them to provide special services for patients who are low-income or uninsured. They serve all patients, regardless of their ability to pay.
“SIU Medicine is a longtime partner for Memorial, and it was natural for us to partner with them to better serve our patients at North Dirksen who are low-income, underinsured or uninsured,” said Kim Beggs, president and CEO of Memorial Medical Group.
TMH Receives Four Stars from National Rural Rating System
The National Rural Rating System (NRRS), an organization that issues quality ratings for rural and critical access hospitals, issued TMH a prestigious four-star rating.
NRRS evaluates hospitals on patient satisfaction, high-quality care and performance based on data collected by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems. The organization issues ratings from one to five stars for rural and critical access hospitals across the country.
“I’m very proud of what we do here at TMH, and a national recognition like this one is a reminder that we truly do make a difference,” said Kim Bourne, TMH president and CEO. “This rating was made possible by the hard work of all our colleagues, medical staff and volunteers, who share our dedication to providing the best care possible for the people of Taylorville and the surrounding area.”
Senior Life Solutions Celebrates Anniversaries
The Senior Life Solutions programs at Taylorville Memorial Hospital and Lincoln Memorial Hospital both celebrated milestone anniversaries this year.
Senior Life Solutions is a hospital-based outpatient program designed to meet the unique needs of older adults who need assistance managing depression and anxiety. Participants attend therapy sessions several times per week while still living at home. The program typically includes individual therapy, medication management and education to address the unique needs of older adults. The program at TMH marked 10 years in 2024, while LMH’s program has been serving seniors for five years.
Memorial Health Consolidated Statement of Operations
Memorial Health Operating Statistics
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. During FY22–24, Memorial Health addressed community health priorities that emerged in the 2021 Community Health Needs Assessments. The most recent Community Health Needs Assessments were conducted in 2024 and produced a new set of priorities that will be addressed in FY25–27.
Detailed information on each hospital’s Community Health Needs Assessment and outcomes of the implementation strategies are available here.
Community Health Needs Assessment 2022–2024 Priorities
Memorial Health
- Mental Health
Decatur Memorial Hospital
- Mental/Behavioral Health
- Economic Disparities
- Access to Health
Jacksonville Memorial Hospital
- Mental Health
- Obesity
- Cancer
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
Community Health Needs Assessment 2025–2027 Priorities
Memorial Health
- Mental Health
Decatur Memorial Hospital
- Mental Health
- Racism
- Cancer
- Unemployment
Jacksonville Memorial Hospital
- Mental Health
- Heart Disease
- Cancer
- Healthy Eating
Lincoln Memorial Hospital
- Mental Health
- Healthy Weight
- Cancer
Springfield Memorial Hospital
- Mental Health
- Chronic Disease
- Homelessness
- Substance Use
Taylorville Memorial Hospital
- Mental Health
- Heart Disease/Stroke
- Access to Primary Care Physicians
Trauma-Informed Care Training Provides Insight on Community’s Mental Health Needs
Mental health emerged as a major concern for people across the region in both the 2021 and 2024 Community Health Needs Assessments, leading Memorial Health to select it as the system-wide priority during both cycles of the CHNA process.
One of the ways Memorial addressed that need in 2024 was offering in-person and virtual trauma-informed care training sessions in every county where a Memorial hospital is located.
Trauma-informed care is an approach to care that acknowledges a person’s full life history and circumstances, including difficult experiences that may influence their outlook. It helps ensure that care providers, including healthcare professionals, are approaching people in a way that doesn’t deepen the impact of their past trauma.
“Every person has some sort of trauma, and every person, based on their lived experiences, deals with that trauma in different ways,” said Sonja Chargois, community health and equity, diversity and inclusion coordinator at Decatur Memorial Hospital, who coordinated the training sessions. She cited gun violence, crime and racism as examples of traumatic experiences that affect the lives of people across central Illinois.
EXPANDING CAREGIVER KNOWLEDGE
The free trainings, which were designed for people in caregiving professions but open to anyone interested in learning more, emphasize the importance of being aware of people’s past trauma and the many ways it can affect their mental and physical health.
Sessions in Christian, Logan, Morgan and Sangamon counties were led by instructors from Memorial Behavioral Health, while Macon County sessions were led by Heritage Behavioral Health Center and S Consulting.
More than 300 people registered for the five in-person and three virtual sessions, representing not only healthcare professionals, but also educators, counselors, religious leaders, youth program leaders and others—most from the local area, but some from out of state. Continuing education credits were provided for those with professional licenses.
“It shows that a wide variety of people understand the importance of being trauma-informed, and that there’s a real need in our communities,” Chargois said, adding that Memorial plans to continue offering these sessions in the coming year.
Free Cancer Screenings across the Region
Each year, Memorial Health partners with other organizations to provide free cancer screenings in communities across the region.
Colorectal Cancer Screening Kit Distribution
- Decatur—82 kits distributed
- Jacksonville—169 kits distributed
- Lincoln—40 kits distributed
- Springfield—159 kits distributed
- Taylorville—60 kits distributed
Area-wide, 40 patients who received colorectal screening kits received positive test results and were referred for more testing and potential treatment.
Skin Cancer Screening Events (in partnership with SIU Medicine)
- Decatur—42 patients screened
- Jacksonville—80 patients screened
- Springfield—119 patients screened
Area-wide, 42 patients were referred for follow-up or biopsies.
Mammogram Mondays
- Decatur—19 total screenings
- Jacksonville—14 total screenings
- Lincoln—25 total screenings
- Springfield—33 total screenings
- Taylorville—13 total screenings
Area-wide, 14 patients were referred for further testing.
Memorial Hospitals Partner to Help Local Kids, Families
Across the region, Memorial Health hospitals partner with local school districts and other community organizations on a range of projects aimed at improving the health and well-being of kids and families around the area.
Here are a few of those partnerships’ accomplishments in 2024:
Decatur Memorial Hospital continued its partnership with Hope Academy, a K-8 school in Decatur Public School District 61 that serves mostly students from low-income families. For the school year beginning in fall 2024, DMH shifted its focus from third- through fifth-grade students to sixth- through eighth-grade students, continuing to offer health and wellness resource fairs and safety education while also offering opportunities for students to explore healthcare careers.
Jacksonville Memorial Hospital held its second annual Summerfest, a youth-focused event and food distribution organized by the Healthy Communities Collaborative, which includes JMH, Prairieland United Way, Salvation Army, Spirit of Faith Soup Kitchen, Jacksonville Food Center and the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce. Held at Community Park, Summerfest featured 39 vendors and a large-scale food distribution. JMH received a $6,750 grant from Dot Foods for purchasing food from Dorothy’s Market, with additional contributions of 9,600 pounds of food from Dot Foods and 10,000 pounds from Central Illinois Foodbank. This effort provided food for 200 local families, along with an extra 105 families served through the United Way’s food drive.
Lincoln Memorial Hospital launched a text message campaign aimed at improving the well-being of freshmen at Lincoln Community High School. Students and parents can subscribe to Railer Reach Out to receive text messages about resources related to mental health, substance use and other health issues. Railer Reach Out was created by the LMH Youth Mental Health Coalition, which is dedicated to improving the well-being of young people in the community by providing resources and support.
Throughout the year, Springfield Memorial Hospital colleagues visited students at the Health Science Academy at Springfield Southeast High School to provide information about a wide range of healthcare careers. Students also got the opportunity to visit Memorial facilities, including the Memorial Learning Center, to get hands-on experience.
In partnership with the Christian County YMCA, Taylorville Memorial Hospital hosted a Back to School Health and Resource Fair. The event included information about community resources and a cookout presented by Dinner Seasoned with Love, whose Operation Loaded Book Bag program provided school supplies free of charge to local children.
Reaching Out to the Community
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.
Learn more here.
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.
Memorial Specialty Care
Memorial Specialty Care provides expert care in 14 different specialties to patients throughout central Illinois. Specialist physicians and advanced practice providers offer diagnosis and treatment for serious health problems, chronic conditions and elective or medically necessary surgeries.
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.