Newsroom OSF HealthCare

Emergency Medicine physician Dr. Sarah Stewart deRamirez is responsible for directing innovation efforts for OSF HealthCare, centered on achieving health equity though community health initiatives that leverage people and technology. Dr. deRamirez is also an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria where she created and directs the Innovation in Global Rural Health programs.

Dr. Mary Stapel, the medical director for community care at OSF St. Francis Medical Center and Faith Community Nurse Randal Mcclallen started a street medicine team in July to offer free doctor visits to those without a home or insurance, This story highlights their work providing care multiple times a week to the homeless population on the streets and at the Dream Center in Peoria.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign welcomed students back with a plan to test them twice a week and notifications will come on a news Safer Illinois app. The app also includes OSF OnCall Connect which will provide 24/7 support for those with suspected symptoms or a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. Students, faculty and staff can be monitored and receive digital support from OSF HealthCare while they quarantine.

WEEK-TV profiles Erin Kennedy as one of its 25 Women in Leadership. It lauds Kennedy for her efforts to build strong community partnerships to improve the overall health and well being of residents.

Tahari Allen of OSF HealthCare' explains the OSF Strive trauma recovery program that provides support for victims of violent crime. In this interview, she explains trauma from violence doesn't just traumatize the victims. It also impacts family members, witnesses - and sometimes even the perpetrators, who were previously victims themselves.

Kathleen Kinsella, recently named president of OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park, is among top, newly-appointed female health care leaders to discuss top priorities in their first year.

OSF HealthCare Pediatrician Dr. Terry Ho is featured in this story in which he explains parents have to ease kids' concerns ab out wearing masks and lead by example. He says any child over the age of two should be wearing a mask while in public and that will also include while at school in the fall.

OSF pulmonologist Dr. Michael Peil is quoted in a Forbes magazine article debunking the myth that wearing masks is unsafe.

The 6th Annual End of School Year Bash continued to celebrate student achievement by providing school supplies and essential items to families in need. OSF HealthCare was among a select group of sponsors for this event.

Get to know Dr. John Vozenilek, vice president and chief medical officer for innovation and digital health through this profile for Peoria Magazines.

This Becker's Healthcare podcast features Michelle Conger, Chief Strategy Officer for OSF Healthcare and CEO of OSF Gabriel Digital Health. She discusses how her role as CSO has changed during the pandemic, how OSF is helping those infected by COVID-19, and more.

Before Patti Vaughan retired Monday after 43 years as a registered nurse at Little Company of Mary, she took a slight COVID-19 detour. She became seriously ill but then recovered and refused to retire early because she said being an OSF nurse wasn't a job, it was a calling.

A community project called "Next to Normal Story Slam" allows individuals to share stories that promote understanding of their personal experience and often focus on a theme. The latest effort has gone virtual and so videos are shared including this one from OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center Nursing Supervisor Sheri Piper. WGLT Radio featured Sheri's story on it's podcast, "The Leadoff"and it is featured at about 4:30 seconds into the podcast and runs a little over two minutes. Take a listen.

Jackie Kernan, President of OSF HealthCare Saint Luke Medical Center and OSF Holy Family Medical Center, shared with WKEI radio how OSF Saint Luke is safely resuming services that had been temporarily put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These care areas include elective surgeries, screening procedures, seasonal immunizations, rehabilitation services, and more. Listen to her full interview

This episode features Michelle Conger, Chief Strategy Officer for OSF Healthcare and CEO of OSF Gabriel Digital Health. Here, she discusses how her role as CSO has changed during the pandemic, how OSF is helping those infected by COVID-19, and more.

The Chicago Tribune shares the story of OSF nurse Shelby Voyles. Shelby volunteered to work the overnight shift in the intensive care unit at OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center, a 298-bed hospital serving a portion of southern Cook County hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Chicago Tribune published a photo essay that highlights the faces on the front lines dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Health care heroes from two Chicago-area hospitals, including OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary, shared the experience of treating those facing down a serious health threat.

OSF HealthCare Director of Infection Prevention and Control Lori Grooms explains the importance of following Stay at Home orders to help flatten the curve or increase in the spread of COVID-19.

Radio Host Roger Monroe of WAZU interviews Dr. John Vozenilek, VP/Chief Medical Officer for OSF Innovation and Saint Gabriel Digital Health for OSF HealthCare. Dr. Vozenilek explains a new OSF collaboration with the state of Illinois for a home monitoring program using specially trained pandemic health workers.

Host H. Wayne Wilson directs questions from social media during this live, one-hour broadcast that included OSF Innovation leader Dr. John Vozenilek and other health care leaders. Questions include can the novel coronavirus change like the flu each season, can a person be reinfected, and where can people struggling with mental health issues find resources.

WMBD-TV did a story on the 24/7 pediatric emergency room at OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria

Peoria surgeon Dr. Sonia Orcutt has landed an $80,000 grant to study use of 3D technology and Virtual Reality, created at the Jump Simulation and Education Center. Pediatric Surgeon Mathew Bramlet's technology has been used to plan complicated heart surgeries for infants and children but Orcutt's study will look at whether it can be used for other, complex surgeries. The goal is to determine if using 3D technology to prepare for surgery improves efficiency and outcomes.

One of they key leaders behind OSF Healthcare's digital transformation and strategy talks about how the health system is innovating to advance access to care while staying ahead of uncertainty. Michelle Conger is quoted in this article highlighting the take aways from a recent roundtable discussion of industry leaders.

This story in The Telgraph newspaper in Alton, Illinois highlights a weekend gathering of the Sisters to commemorate the founding of the order in Germany and expansoin to six states in the US and eight other countries including Cuba, Japan, Brazil, Indonesia and Tanzania.