News From SIH

For as long as I can remember, PRIDE Month has been celebrated across the U.S. in June and offers an opportunity to recognize the impact lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally and internationally.

In an ongoing effort to offer new services in Saline and nearby counties, SIH is pleased to announce the opening of SIH Urgent Care in Harrisburg on Friday, April 1 .

The new SIH Work Care location is set to open January 17, 2022. SIH Work Care, an occupational medicine leader in Southern Illinois, has announced plans to open a Harrisburg location at 901 S. Commercial Street to better meet the needs of business and industry in Saline, Gallatin, Hardin, Pope, Hamilton and White Counties. It will be the second site for SIH Work Care, which opened in 2007.

Consistent with long-standing practices requiring health care workers to be vaccinated against serious infectious diseases for the safety of patients and staff, SIH will require COVID-19 vaccinations for all employees and those who work in SIH facilities as a condition of their employment. Employees will be required to be fully vaccinated by November 8, 2021.

Out of an abundance of caution, you will notice an increased security and law enforcement presence at SIH facilities today on the heels of a potential threat lobbied against several Illinois hospitals (Wednesday, Aug. 4). Law enforcement officials believe this threat involves spoofing and appears to be a hoax. Nevertheless, SIH is taking the threat seriously in the best interest of our staff, patients and community. While we take these additional safety measures, SIH services and hospital operations will continue as normal.

SIH is pleased to announce the Illinois Health Facilities Services and Review Board today approved a certificate of exemption for an ownership change allowing Harrisburg Medical Center (HMC) to join the SIH family. Following the closing of the transaction, to be effective on August 1, 2021, the real work of improving health in the Harrisburg community will begin as part of the formal integration process with SIH.

Changes are coming soon if you have Medicare and full Medicaid (no spenddown). There are five plans to choose from for your coverage. Most people over age 21 who have Medicare Part A & B as their primary coverage and Medicaid as their secondary coverage will now have one plan. This plan becomes effective for some individuals as early as July 1,2021

The Harrisburg Medical Center Board of Directors has voted in favor of the Saline County hospital joining Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH), pending approval from the Illinois Health Facilities Services and Review Board (IHFSRB). The outcome is the result of 16 months of discussions and due diligence as both entities explored a mutually beneficial relationship.

A reimagined and reinvigorated economic development initiative will create a regional hub and serve as a unified voice for the 17 southernmost counties. SI Now, a Southern Illinois Success Initiative, involves collaboration among leaders in business and industry, healthcare, higher education, workforce development, transportation, government, non-profit economic development and community coalitions. SI Now’s vision is to create a thriving, economically diverse environment with a growing population, labor force, per capita income and expanding tax base, while elevating an already high quality of life.