This annual report is a look back at 2023—but more importantly, it’s a look ahead at how we are building the future of Memorial Health.
The past year presented many challenges not only for us at Memorial, but also for healthcare organizations nationwide. In 2023, we implemented a reduction in force affecting several hundred colleagues across the region—one of the most difficult decisions we've ever had to make, and one that underscored the incredibly volatile environment we find ourselves in. During this time of challenge and change, we must reaffirm our commitment to our core mission and remain focused on what’s truly important: our ability to care for our patients and communities now and in the years to come.
In these pages, you’ll learn more about how we are preparing for the future of healthcare and laying the foundation for a strong healthcare workforce in central Illinois, even as we continue to address our day-to-day challenges. Our colleagues are at the heart of these efforts.
Every day, we hear stories about the amazing care Memorial provides to our patients and communities—some of which are included in this report. Thank you for your support as we continue to fulfill our mission.
Lincoln Memorial Hospital and Jacksonville Memorial Hospital nursing teams both received high-profile redesignations for nursing excellence in 2023.
In late April, Lincoln Memorial Hospital was honored with a second Pathway to Excellence® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). LMH is one of only two Pathway hospitals in Illinois and 201 nationwide. The designation recognizes organizations that create an empowering work environment for nurses.
“The redesignation speaks to the excellence of nursing practice at LMH and further demonstrates that we are committed to not only providing high-quality, safe and compassionate care for all of our patients, but also doing so in an environment where nurses and all colleagues are valued for their skill and expertise,” said LMH chief nursing officer Roxanne Stelle.
In May, JMH earned its fourth Magnet® designation, joining only 2 percent of hospitals nationwide—including Springfield Memorial Hospital—that have achieved this high standard. The Magnet designation, also awarded by ANCC, recognizes excellence in nursing practice and high-quality nursing care.
“This is a reflection not only of the high caliber of our nursing teams, but also the efforts of all the colleagues who support nursing and provide quality care,” said Leanna Wynn, who retired on July 15 after a long career as chief nursing officer at JMH.
On Aug. 24, classes began at the new Springfield location for Illinois State University’s Mennonite College of Nursing.
Forty-eight undergraduate students are part of the initial cohort at the new location on North Grand Avenue, which opened its doors thanks to a partnership with Memorial Health.
That partnership, announced in 2022, is helping to expand the capacity of nursing education opportunities in central Illinois. Officials from ISU held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 18 alongside Memorial leaders and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, who highlighted the potential of such partnerships to alleviate the regional nursing shortage.
Memorial has forged similar relationships with other colleges and universities across the region, including University of Illinois at Chicago—Springfield regional campus, Lincoln Land Community College and Richland Community College. These partnerships have increased the number of students enrolled in nursing programs in the region by nearly 400.
Students enrolled in these programs also have the opportunity for hands-on learning at Memorial Health sites of care. In June, Memorial and Mennonite College of Nursing presented a "Clinical Instructor 101" class for Memorial Health nurses. The class gave an overview of the role of a nursing adjunct faculty member overseeing clinical rotations.
That same month, Memorial and Illinois College announced a strategic nursing education partnership that will assist IC in expanding student enrollment in its bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) and pre-nursing programs.
“Memorial is committed to building a strong healthcare workforce that will benefit our region in the decades to come,” said Marsha Prater, PhD, who was instrumental in building nursing education partnerships as senior vice president and chief nursing officer prior to her retirement in September 2023. In retirement, she will continue to build and maintain these partnerships in the role of chief nursing officer emeritus.
“We must ensure that promising young students have the opportunity to study nursing here in central Illinois,” she added. “It’s so rewarding to see these partnerships come to fruition as students enroll in and graduate from the programs we support.”
The University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford selected Memorial Health to receive the 2023 Distinguished Community Award.
The award honored Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, Lincoln Memorial Hospital and Taylorville Memorial Hospital for their support of U of I medical students working in their communities as part of the Rural Medical Education (RMED) program. The RMED program asks students to commit to serving patients in rural areas upon completion of their residencies.
“Living and working in a smaller community can be very rewarding, but it can be difficult to understand those rewards until you’ve experienced them firsthand,” said TMH president and CEO Kim Bourne, who accepted the award on behalf of all three hospitals. “The RMED program gives us an opportunity to share our love for what we do.”
Memorial Care physician Amir John Wahab, MD, received the 2023 Rural Physician Lifetime of Service Award from the Illinois Rural Health Association.
The award is given annually to an Illinois physician who has devoted their career to rural practice, made a positive impact on their community and served as a mentor to younger physicians.
“His passion and dedication to his patients and community are apparent through his involvement in key patient care initiatives and his service to others,” said Travis Dowell, president and CEO of Memorial Medical Group. “He has had an enormous impact on not only the lives of his patients, but the well-being of the entire Lincoln community.”
In February 2023, Memorial Care opened a new urgent care clinic on Morton Avenue in Jacksonville.
The clinic provides quick care for minor illnesses and injuries, as well as lab and imaging services.
“Our goal is to meet patients where they are and make it easier to access our care—whether that means establishing new clinics in the communities where demand is highest or enabling patients to talk to a provider with just a few clicks in an app,” said Jay Roszhart, president, Memorial Health Ambulatory Group. “I’m excited for the growth we’ve seen in recent years and for what the future will bring.”
For more than four decades, the partnership between Springfield Memorial Hospital and SIU School of Medicine has benefited not only the next generation of physicians, but also local patients.
Last fall, plastic and reconstructive surgeon Tim Daugherty, MD, performed an “ectopic banking” procedure for local patient Benjamin Heinemann after silage machinery severed half of his left hand. Heinemann was taken to Jacksonville Memorial Hospital and transferred to SMH, where Dr. Daugherty was on call. The surgeon had just completed a hand fellowship at the Curtis National Hand Center in Baltimore.
Ectopic banking is a revolutionary technique in which an amputated body part is temporarily reconnected to the patient and later replanted. In Heinemann’s case, Dr. Daugherty and his team repaired structures in his hand before attaching it to his right forearm. For the next six weeks, Heinemann recuperated at SMH while blood vessels regrew into his fingers. Dr. Daugherty and a team from the SIU Institute for Plastic Surgery then successfully replanted the fingers on his left hand during a 12-hour procedure.
This was the first ectopic banking procedure performed in the Midwest. Dr. Daugherty, a Springfield native and a graduate of SIU School of Medicine, said he is proud to bring his expertise to patients in his hometown.
“SIU being a smaller place, you might not realize our national reputation in hand surgery,” he said. “I’m very fortunate to have trained at some of the best institutions for hand surgeries, and I’m proud to continue in that tradition.”
“This is a great example of how the partnership between SIU School of Medicine and Memorial Health benefits our patients,” said Charles Callahan, PhD, president and CEO of Springfield Memorial Hospital. “We are proud to partner in bringing medical innovation and state-of-the-art care to people in central Illinois.”
When professional golf caddie Rusty Stark arrived at the Memorial Health Championship presented by LRS in July, he quickly signed up for free skin cancer screenings being offered to the Korn Ferry Tour participants.
A professional caddie for 13 years, Stark was aware that his outdoor work put him at greater risk for skin cancer, and he wanted to get checked out. Almost as an afterthought, he also signed up for a free physical.
When Dave Sandercock, MD, examined Stark, he heard irregularities in Stark’s heartbeat and pulse. Dr. Sandercock immediately arranged for Stark to go to Memorial Care’s urgent care facility in Chatham for an EKG. Further testing confirmed Dr. Sandercock’s suspicion: Stark had atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat that can trigger other serious health conditions, such as a stroke, if left untreated.
Stark, 55, said he had felt some fatigue recently, but had chalked it up to the demands of caddying in hot summer days. Caddies typically walk 18,000 to 22,000 steps during an 18-hole round, while carrying a 30- to 40-pound bag.
His diagnosis came as a shock, but Dr. Sandercock was reassuring, he said. He left Springfield with medication and the information he needed to arrange for follow-up care at his Houston home.
“You have those thoughts, ‘Am I going to die? Am I going to be able to keep doing this work?’” Stark said of learning his diagnosis. “But Dr. Dave assured me that if I get this taken care of, I can manage this. The care I got was a 10 out of 10.”
During 2023, Decatur Memorial Hospital became the only hospital in Decatur with an obstetrics unit. The Family Birth Center stepped up to the challenge, delivering nearly twice as many babies in 2023 as the previous year.
In response to the growing need, DMH invested in a laborist program that ensures patients have 24/7, on-site access to a obstetrician available to respond to routine needs or emergencies, regardless of whether they are insured or currently under the care of a physician.
“I’m very proud of how the colleagues in our Family Birth Center continue to meet the needs of Decatur and the region,” said Drew Early, DMH president and CEO. “We provide a warm, supportive environment for moms, babies and families, thanks to the hard work of the colleagues on this unit. It’s rewarding to be able to give the newest residents of our community a great start in life.”
Trevor Huffman was named president and chief executive officer of Jacksonville Memorial Hospital effective Feb. 12, 2023.
Huffman, a licensed physical therapist, began his career at JMH in 1998 and went on to become director of Rehabilitation Services. In 2019, he was appointed director of Ambulatory Services.
Huffman earned a bachelor of science degree in physical therapy from Maryville University in St. Louis, a master of science degree in health and physical education with an athletic training and sports medicine concentration from Illinois State University and a master of business administration degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is a licensed physical therapist and athletic trainer, as well as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He currently serves on the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Board and the Board of Directors of Prairieland United Way. He and his wife, Monica, have raised five children in Morgan County.
In June, a new Memorial Child Care facility opened on the Springfield Memorial Hospital campus.
The new building more than doubled the square footage in each classroom, allowing MCC to expand its enrollment by more than 80 children. The facility also features new playgrounds and play spaces, room for social and emotional learning and safety enhancements.
“We’re proud to have offered child care on the SMH campus for more than 35 years,” said Elisabeth Klar, senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Memorial Health. “This is an important way we can support our colleagues and give them peace of mind that their children are receiving great care during the workday.”
Health equity is written into Memorial Health’s values and it’s a key focus across the nation.
“Health equity is about ensuring fair opportunities for everyone to have physical, mental and social well-being,” said Valeria Cueto, Memorial Health vice president of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. “People’s health access and outcomes shouldn’t be limited by the identities they hold or where they live.”
In 2023, EDI helped develop a process and trained colleagues to collect patient information on sexual orientation and gender identity in the ambulatory setting. EDI has also worked with various groups to collect information on patients’ social needs, including housing, safety and food security.
A partnership with Press Ganey allows EDI to gather information about patient experience and engage it from a health equity perspective. The EDI team is also examining and responding to health equity needs in partnership with Lance Millburg, system administrator for Quality and Performance Improvement. The Birth Equity Project applies this focus to maternal and infant health.
Projects on inclusive leadership practices and training on bias awareness and inclusive communication help create a supportive environment for all colleagues, which is another aspect of health equity.
“What we want is a health system that allows everyone—patients and colleagues—to achieve their total well-being,” Cueto said. “It’s central to Memorial’s mission and we are glad to help move us closer to the goal of health equity.”
On Feb. 26, 2023, the Cerner electronic health record went live at Decatur Memorial Hospital and Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, while Memorial Care clinics in Decatur began using the TouchWorks system.
During go-live, command centers were established to provide 24/7 at-the-elbow support to colleagues using the new health record for the first time. Leaders also conducted rounding to assess the progress of the transition.
These go-lives were part of a long-term effort to unify Memorial Health within a single electronic health record—enabling providers to access complete health information for all Memorial patients, no matter which location they visit. This massive undertaking required more than two years of planning and involved hundreds of colleagues and physicians across the organization.
On June 8, Springfield Lucky Horseshoes pitcher Matt Cruise was on the mound at Robin Roberts Stadium when he was struck in the head by a line drive.
The 19-year-old raised his glove defensively but not quite in time to prevent a frightening injury that knocked him unconscious.
His mom, Melissa, still has nightmares about that pitch. “That has always been my biggest fear as the parent of a pitcher,” she said. “I can still see it when I close my eyes at night.”
Matt suffered a skull fracture that caused life-threatening bleeding in his brain. He appreciates what he calls the “phenomenal care” he received at Springfield Memorial Hospital, from the Emergency Department team to the doctors and nurses who cared for him in intensive care and performed brain surgery the following day.
As Matt worked to regain strength and stamina, he reflected, “The support from people in Springfield got me to where I’m at now. My recovery is going great, but there were definitely hard times when I was experiencing pain, and I would look at the comments on social media, and I would feel so much better. I couldn’t have asked for more.”
His mom echoes those thoughts.
“Everyone kept telling us to take him to Memorial,” she said. “I would have never thought he was going to have brain surgery on a Friday night and come home Monday morning. I just thank God every day that he’s OK.”
This year, 27 physicians and advanced practice providers joined Memorial Care and Memorial Specialty Care, enabling more patients to access high-quality primary and specialty care close to home.
Sixteen of those new providers joined Memorial Specialty Care. With a staff of more than 60 physicians and advanced practice providers, most based in Decatur, Memorial Specialty Care provides a wide range of specialized care to patients across central Illinois.
Eleven of the new providers joined Memorial Care primary care clinics in Decatur, Jacksonville, Lincoln and Springfield.
“We continue to prioritize recruitment for Memorial Care and Memorial Specialty Care,” said Jay Roszhart, president, Memorial Health Ambulatory Group. “We’re proud to welcome these new providers and excited to be able to expand access for our patients across the region.”
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 in 2021 and identified health priorities that are being addressed using a variety of strategies 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.
A nutritious diet is central to good health—but access to healthy food is a challenge for many people. Memorial Health is working to make fresh produce more affordable and easily accessible throughout the region.
In the summer of 2023, volunteers donated more than 100 pounds of fresh vegetables from the Taylorville Memorial Hospital Community Garden to the Taylorville Food Pantry.
This year’s harvest included tomatoes, peppers, onions, cucumbers, squash, green beans and herbs. The Community Garden also benefited TMH colleagues, who could choose to spend their work break or lunch outside in the sunshine, weeding or helping to harvest vegetables.
During the 2023 season, the Lincoln Memorial Foundation provided $10,170 in matching benefits for shoppers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) who purchase fresh food at The LMH Market. This was the eighth season for The Market, which promotes health and wellness through local food and health-focused programming.
At the Jacksonville Farmers Market, families enrolled in SNAP can earn match vouchers thanks to a grant from the Jacksonville Memorial Foundation. This year, shoppers redeemed more than $4,500 in vouchers.
Colleagues from Springfield Memorial Hospital volunteered their time at Motherland Gardens this summer as part of Community Health Improvement Week, helping founder Yves Doumen clean up an unused part of the garden, harvest peas and more. Motherland Gardens, which held its grand opening in August, provides a place for local residents to plant produce, particularly those who lack easy access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Doumen also helps people interested in learning more about gardening and sustainable agriculture to hone their skills.
In 2023, the Memorial Wellness Center partnered with the University of Illinois Extension to bring free healthy cooking classes to Taylorville Memorial Hospital, Lincoln Memorial Hospital and Decatur Memorial Hospital.
Memorial Health is involved in efforts to address homelessness in communities across central Illinois.
In Sangamon County, Memorial Health is among multiple organizations providing financial and planning support to Heartland HOUSED (Housing Opportunities for the Under-Served through Equitable Delivery), which seeks to create a collaborative, unified system to help people experiencing homelessness access the housing and support services they need.
Memorial has also helped convene community partners in Morgan and Christian counties to begin identifying gaps in services for people experiencing homelessness and working toward a strategic plan to address homelessness in those areas.
“Partnerships are key in this type of work, and we’re proud to be part of these efforts,” said Memorial Health president and CEO Ed Curtis. “Homelessness affects every facet of a person’s life, including their physical and mental health, so it’s crucial for healthcare organizations like Memorial to have a place at the table as we work to find solutions.”
In November 2022, Taylorville Memorial Hospital’s vaping prevention and cessation program was honored with a Community Project Award from the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network. The Community Project Award recognizes projects that strengthen and improve the health of communities.
From December 2021 to February 2022, an evidence-based youth vaping prevention program, "Catch My Breath," was implemented for all sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students at Taylorville Junior High School.
Approximately 500 students completed the program. A post-program survey revealed that 92.3% of the participants were less likely to vape as a result of the program, while 91.6% of the participants said they learned a lot about e-cigarettes from the program. The survey showed that 92.7% of students felt they understand e-cigarette advertising better as a result of the program and 93.2% felt confident in using refusal skills learned in the program.
Last school year, Decatur Memorial Hospital began a partnership with Hope Academy, a K-8 school in Decatur Public School District 61 that serves about 560 students.
According to the Illinois State Board of Education, more than 88% of Hope Academy students come from families that are considered low-income. Some of these students experience food insecurity, lack access to healthcare or have other circumstances in their lives that can make it difficult to fully engage in learning.
Sonja Chargois, DMH Community Engagement and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion coordinator, said that the idea for the partnership came about as DMH leaders considered ways to engage in the community to support health and well-being.
“We can’t meet all their needs, but we can look at our priorities and see what’s feasible for us to do within our own space,” Chargois said, noting that some families who are reluctant to visit a healthcare facility might feel more comfortable learning about health and wellness in a familiar place like a school. “It’s a win-win when we can bring healthcare resources directly to the community in spaces where they feel comfortable.”
During the 2022–2023 school year, DMH held a Wellness Night for students and families, providing education and information about community resources. DMH leaders and colleagues helped introduce students in third through fifth grade to healthcare careers by visiting the school to read books and answer questions.
The current school year kicked off with a session by DMH Emergency Department nurses, who held a training session for students that covered basic first aid and how to respond in medical emergencies. Students even got to take home their own first aid kit. A second Wellness Night was held at the end of October.
Chargois said she’s excited about the future of the partnership and the opportunity to come alongside families and address their needs. “I’m looking forward to potentially changing some lives through community health,” she said.
During fiscal year 2023, DMH nurses led 15 Stop the Bleed training sessions for the Decatur community.
The Stop the Bleed program from the American College of Surgeons teaches people who are not healthcare professionals to respond to emergencies in which people are experiencing rapid loss of blood, including accidents and violence.
More than 215 people were trained in Stop the Bleed in Decatur last year, including all Decatur Public Schools nurses and security team members. A session for the public was also held at the Macon County Health Department.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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 provides home health, hospice and medical equipment services across an 18-county region in central Illinois.
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.
TMH is a critical access hospital in Taylorville offering a full range of inpatient and outpatient services to residents of Christian County.