News From SIH

On Friday, Southern Illinois Healthcare unveiled new remote health care options for people living in southern Illinois. Using remote communication platfor Webex, Dr. Matthew Winkleman of Harrisburg discussed ways patients at SIH Primary Care Harrisburg may communicate with health care providers through video visits.

CARBONDALE — Among the many items essential healthcare workers rely upon to keep them safer during the COVID-19 pandemic is a clear, plastic shield that fits on their head, covering their faces. And, like other items, face shields are running in short supply. Faculty at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are pitching in to help solve the local shortage.

Director of Emergency Services at SIH Herrin Hospital joined Will Stephens to talk about COVID-19 and Emergency Medical Care. Dr. Miksanek said that Emergency care for Heart Attack and Stroke is not occurring at typical rates. This leads SIH to believe people are putting off Emergency Medical Care due to COVID-19.

SIH continues to see dozens of mask donations daily in response to the personal protective equipment shortage. Denise Glennon's mother is a former nurse who taught her how to sow; she understands the need for masks when a loved one is sick.

We understand there’s a lot of anxiety around what to do if you suspect you or a loved one has been exposed to COVID-19 and might be sick.

Here’s what we recommend to help get the guidance you need and prevent spread in your home and community:

SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale is caring for a patient with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus). The test was sent to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) lab in Carbondale for testing and SIH subsequently learned the test results were positive. SIH is collaborating with Jackson County Health Department.

Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced the first two COVID-19 test results in our region involving a patient in Williamson County and Jackson County. Both patients were screened through the SIH COVID-19 hotline and SIH drive-through testing sites.

SIH’s team of infectious disease and infection prevention specialists and emergency preparedness personnel continue to collaborate with local, state and federal officials regarding COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) prevention and response. While COVID-19 is new, preparing for responses to potential epidemics and pandemics (e.g., H1N1, Swine Flu, MERS, SARS, Ebola) isn’t. In Southern Illinois, a dedicated, multidisciplinary group of professionals and community partners are in regular communication on how to provide safe, effective care for our regional community.

MURPHYSBORO (WSIL) -- Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH) has a new facility for patients with congestive heart failure. The new clinic opened Wednesday at St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Murphysboro. Dr. Muhammad Khan, a cardiologist from Prairie Cardiovascular, says the idea for a second location has been in the works for about a year.

Dr. Muhammad Khan, cardiologist with SIH Prairie Heart Institute, and Terry Burns of Marion, a heart failure patient and heart transplant recipient, spoke Wednesday at SIH St. Joseph Memorial Hospital as part of grand opening festivities for a new outpatient heart failure clinic at the hospital in Murphysboro. It is the second such clinic in the SIH family.