You’re coming to the hospital to give birth.

You’ve had a hip replacement and now will have a hospital stay to complete rehabilitation.

There are a lot of things swirling through your mind, notably thoughts like “Am I going to be OK?”

Questions like “Where is my toothbrush?” are probably on the backburner. That’s why it’s a good idea to make a “hospital essential items” checklist now.

Kurt Bloomstrand, MD, sees these scenarios plenty while providing care in the emergency department at OSF HealthCare. He says a hospital will provide basic toiletries, blankets, food and clothing like a gown and socks. But some people prefer their own toiletries, clothes and snacks.

Other things to do and bring:

·       Write down your health information: health insurance, medications, medical history, name of your primary care provider, allergies and legal documents like power of attorney and a do not resuscitate order. Have an identification like a driver's license, too.

“Some people in the emergency department are not able to tell us their health information given what they’re presenting for. So, it’s so valuable to have basic health information written down,” Dr. Bloomstrand says. He adds that knowing your health information allows providers to care for you properly. You can also bring legal forms to your provider anytime to be added to your medical record.

·       Bring other items essential to your well-being: eyeglasses, contacts, hearing aids, dentures and a continuous positive airway pressure machine (CPAP) for sleeping. Bring cases and batteries for these items, too.

·       When choosing clothes, opt for loose-fitting and short-sleeved garments.

“If you have an IV, a short-sleeved shirt is much better to access it than a long-sleeved shirt,” Dr. Bloomstrand says. “You can bring a robe to cover up.”

 

·       For moms giving birth, bring your birth plan in written form. Pack a few pairs of clothes for you and your baby.

“Babies notoriously spit up on their clothes,” Dr. Bloomstrand says with a smirk.

The hospital can provide diapers, wipes and a breast pump. But, you can bring your own if you prefer a certain type.

“Not only can you use your breast pump, the people at the hospital can teach you how to use it,” Dr. Bloomstrand says.

What babies don’t need at the hospital: rattles, books and toys. Save those memories for home.

·       Don’t overdo it with personal items and food. This can cause your room to get cluttered and create a trip hazard. Have someone who can take unneeded items home.

·       Don’t bring valuable items. Dr. Bloomstrand says a phone is OK to keep in touch with loved ones. But other electronics and jewelry should stay home. Hospitals have security, but like any other place, there is a chance for theft.

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Prior to serving as interim president at OSF Saint Anthony’s, Schepers was the hospital’s chief nursing officer. Recruitment for that position will begin immediately.

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December 12, 2024: Zach Yoder named president at OSF Saint Anthony's
March 23, 2026: Zach Yoder appointed president of select hospitals
May 6, 2026: OSF Saint Anthony's earns fifth consecutive “A” hospital safety grade from the Leapfrog Group
April 7, 2025: Commemorating 100 years of care in Alton, Illinois

Read more news and accomplishments from OSF Saint Anthony's here.

We all get thirsty from time to time. But it’s not just that feeling that can mean you’re dehydrated – when your body doesn’t have enough fluids. There are lesser known signs you should know to avoid a possibly life-threatening situation, says Awad Alyami, MD, an OSF HealthCare pediatrician.

“You get less perfusion to tissues and organs,” when you’re dehydrated, Dr. Alyami says. “That can cause organ damage.

“Perfusion refers to fluid, nutrients and energy your organs need to function,” he adds.

Unfamiliar signs

Take note of these things to keep an eye on for possible dehydration, especially if you are at high risk. For example, if you work an outdoor job in warm weather or if you look after someone who can’t fully care for themselves.

• You’ve suffered burns. This means there is less skin tissue doing its job of keeping you healthy.
   
• Peeing isn’t normal, such as expelling less urine.

“When you’re hydrated, your urine should look yellow, pale yellow or sometimes almost transparent like water,” Dr. Alyami explains. “When you become dehydrated, your urine will become less in volume, and the color will be darker. It goes into an orange color. It can have a smell, also.”

• Crying without tears
   
• Skin changes, such as eyes appearing sunken in
   
• Fast heart rate
   
• Deep, heavy breaths

“When you’re dehydrated, your blood can be more acidic. You’ll try to get rid of some of that acid in your breaths,” Dr. Alyami says.

• Bad breath
   
• Headaches
   
• Muscle cramps
   
• Food cravings
   
• Sudden weight loss. Dr. Alyami says one kilogram (or around 2.2 pounds) of weight loss means one liter of fluid loss. So if someone has lost two to four pounds quickly and unintentionally (for example, not because of a diet and exercise program), it’s cause for concern.

What to do

Dr. Alyami says while dehydration can be serious, recovering doesn’t have to be. Rest and drink fluids. Water or Pedialyte are go-tos.

“If the dehydration is because of decreased oral intake, the person might just need pain medicine so it’s less painful to swallow while eating and drinking. If they are losing fluids from vomiting, we can give them medicine to stop vomiting,” Dr. Alyami says.

If those steps don’t work, Dr. Alyami says the person would likely get intravenous (IV) fluids in a hospital emergency department.

“You’re probably going to be there for at least a couple hours. [Health care providers] want to make sure you can take fluids and keep them down before you go home,” Dr. Alyami says. “Sometimes the dehydration is severe enough that we need to replace those fluids over one to two days.”

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Don't sweat it

You’ve likely heard of bronchitis, an illness that impacts the larger lung airways and leaves you feeling short of breath and just generally yucky.

This fall and winter, here’s another respiratory illness with “bronch” in the name to be aware of, especially if you have young kids: bronchiolitis. It’s an ailment that Awad Alyami, MD, an OSF HealthCare pediatrician, sees often this time of year.

The basics

Dr. Alyami says bronchiolitis is an infection of the bronchioles, or the small airways that branch out in the lungs.

“When they become infected, there is a lot of mucus. It makes it harder to breathe,” Dr. Alyami explains.

Other symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough and dehydration. Bronchiolitis is “easily spread,” Dr. Alyami says, through respiratory droplets, like when you cough. The illness is most common in children, especially kids under two. Other high-risk groups include babies born prematurely, with chronic lung disease, with heart disease present at birth and with immune system deficiencies.

“There are also environmental risk factors, like babies who are exposed to smoke and babies who attend day care,” Dr. Alyami adds. Attending day care, he explains, will expose a child to illnesses, no matter how clean the place is.

Cause, diagnosis and treatment

Dr. Alyami says other viruses like influenza and COVID-19 can cause bronchiolitis, but respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause.

“You need to see a doctor if your baby has trouble breathing at any time,” Dr. Alyami advises. “Or if your baby is younger than three months and they have a fever. Or if they are older than three months and they have a fever for more than three days. Or if the child has signs of dehydration, like if they are making fewer wet diapers than normal.”

Unlike the flu and COVID-19, there is no test for bronchiolitis. But, a health care provider may swab your nose anyway to see if you have another virus. Other tests like a chest x-ray may be done. And the provider will also examine you and ask about your health history to come up with a diagnosis.

Treatment involves making you feel comfortable until symptoms resolve.

“One of the most important things is nose suction as needed,” Dr. Alyami says. “When we suction the nose and keep it clean, it’s easier to breathe.”

A bulb suction is the most common device to do this. When you’re really stuffed up, you can use nasal spray or drops to make the secretion thinner. Then, use the suction. You can also use a humidifier if your home’s air is dry. Dr. Alyami says these devices and medicines are widely available in retail stores.

You can treat the fever with over-the-counter medication. Drink fluids to stay hydrated.

“Typically, day three to day five are the peak of symptoms,” Dr. Alyami says. “After five days, they start to improve. Symptoms can last seven to 14 days. And typically, the cough lingers for a little longer.”

In serious cases, your child may have low oxygen and need to be admitted to the hospital. There, doctors will use an oxygen tube inserted into the nostrils to help breathing. In rare cases, a doctor will put a breathing tube down the child’s throat.

Prevention

Want your child to avoid all this? Preach healthy habits, especially in fall and winter when respiratory illnesses peak. Wash your hands thoroughly. Cough and sneeze into your elbow or a tissue. If you’re sick, stay away from others.

Dr. Alyami adds that since RSV is the main cause of bronchiolitis, you should look into the RSV vaccine. This cold weather season, the vaccine is available for certain groups, like older adults, infants and pregnant women. Talk to your primary care provider if you have questions.

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“I found a lump.”

It’s the unsettling phrase providers sometimes hear from women when they are performing their monthly breast self-check for cancer signs.

But lumps are not the only thing to watch for, says Heather Thompson, an OSF HealthCare breast health navigator who is herself a breast cancer survivor.

Signs to know

Each month, keep these in mind.

• Lumps, the most talked about sign.

“A lot of women, especially younger women, have very dense breasts. Sometimes it feels like a bag of rice with little bumps. That’s just the tissue,” Thompson says. “When you feel a hard nodule, fixed in place or sometimes mobile, you definitely want to get that reviewed.”

• Skin changes. This could be an orange peel skin appearance, flaky skin, irritation or a new dimple.
   
• Unexpected release of fluid or blood from the nipple. For example, if you are not breastfeeding, a nipple discharge would be unexpected.
   
• Unexpected inversion of a nipple.
   
• One breast larger than the other, or generally, any unexpected change to breast size.
   
• Any new pain in breast area.
   
• Tenderness, swelling, pain or lumps under your armpit. This is one some women may overlook since it doesn’t deal with the breasts.

“Your lymphatic system drains to armpits,” Thompson explains. “So, if there’s anything going on in the breast, it’s going to show up in your armpit eventually.”

When and how

Thompson recommends women pick a date each month for a self-check and stick with it. The first of each month, for example. This way, you can put it on your calendar, and it’s easy to remember. And, she says the feel of your breasts will change as days go by. But, choosing the same time each month gives you a baseline feel and helps avoid false positives. Thompson also advises making your chosen date a week after your menstrual cycle ends.

Thompson says many women find it convenient to examine themselves in the shower. Regardless of where, she says a good technique is to move your fingertips in a circle from the outside to the center of the breast, pressing down and feeling for abnormalities. Then, do the same under each armpit. And also, glance in the mirror for a good look at visual signs, such as one breast larger than the other.

Some women have a trusted adult, like a spouse, also feel their breast for a second opinion. Others may take photos during their self-check to show their provider. Both ideas are acceptable, Thompson says.

“When you go to the doctor, they can look at the picture. If the abnormality has changed or gone back to normal, then we know it’s nothing to really worry about. But if the issue has increased in size or looks worse, it’s something to be concerned about,” she says.

What happens next

If you find something concerning in a self-check, call your primary care provider or OB/GYN right away and explain what you found. Thompson says the provider will likely order a diagnostic mammogram, an outpatient procedure at a doctor’s office. The radiologist should read the results on the spot. If a closer look is needed, you may undergo an ultrasound, another way to image the breast, or a biopsy, which takes a tissue sample for testing.

It's important not to panic, Thompson stresses. If you have severe pain or an abscess, you should go to the emergency department. But for abnormal findings on a self-check, that’s not necessary.

“If you go to the emergency department with a lump, they’re going to send you home, and you’re going to have to go through the process of calling your provider.

“Breast cancer is not going to change that drastically in three to four weeks,” Thompson adds. “It’s not going to make that big of a difference. However, you want to get yourself scheduled and be proactive. Don’t say ‘Oh let me watch it for a few months and see if it changes.’”

But do keep track of any changes between when you make the appointment and appointment day.

Why it’s important

Thompson says a monthly self-check goes hand-in-hand with regularly scheduled mammograms as the most important ways to prevent breast cancer. You should talk to your primary care provider or OB/GYN about what mammogram schedule is right for you.

“Typically, we do a mammogram every year to get the breast image,” Thompson says. “But during the year, things can develop that you don’t notice. Some things can develop very quickly.

“By doing a monthly exam, you learn your body. You know how it feels,” she adds. “Each month you may say ‘Well I didn’t remember that there last month.’ So you can address it right away.”

Early detection is key for a better outcome. Conversely, unchecked breast cancer is a major killer in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates about 43,700 women will lose their life to the disease in 2023.

Learn more

Read more about breast health and breast cancer on the OSF HealthCare website.

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Author's note: this is part two of a two part story on staying healthy during summer vacations. Click here for part one.


Summer means getaways to de-stress and make memories. But the last thing you want is to catch a cold or worse, especially if you’re halfway across the world where health care resources might be different or scarce.

It's not too late to make some quick preparations, says Jennifer Whitfill, APRN, a family nurse practitioner at OSF HealthCare.

• Know your destination and what to do if something goes wrong.
  
  “If you have a medical condition, have your medications with dosages on a list. Have your health care provider’s information on that same page. That way in case something happens, they know how to get ahold of the provider to ask questions,” Whitfill says. “Investigate where is the closest health care facility, whether that’s a hospital or an urgent care, in case you need care quickly.”

This is especially important, for example, for people with heart conditions who might require a complex level of care at a moment’s notice.

• Consider travel insurance: It might not be needed for every trip, but it can give you some peace of mind.
   
• Crowded areas: Train stations and airports are full of people from all walks of life, and it’s a safe bet that some of them are under the weather.
  
  “Good hand hygiene is huge,” Whitfill says, especially after contacting high-touch areas like an escalator railing. “If you are immunocompromised or worried about catching something, you can always mask. Boost your immune system [prior to travel], and keep your distance [from others] as much as possible.”
   
• Sleep: If you’re crossing multiple time zones, adjust your sleep a few days in advance to avoid exhaustion. Whitfill says if you’re traveling east, go to bed and wake up a few hours earlier each day. If you’re traveling west, go to bed and wake up a few hours later.
  
  “Book a flight that lands early in the evening. After landing, try to remain awake until 10 p.m. local time. That helps adjust the body’s sleep cycle,” Whitfill explains. “Also practice good sleep hygiene. Drink plenty of fluids. When you’re flying, get up multiple times to keep blood flowing. Stay away from alcohol and caffeinated beverages.”
   
• Food and drink: You might have heard claims from friends and family that the water in [insert location here] is dirty and unsafe. That might be a bit exaggerated, but when in doubt Whitfill says to use bottled water, even when brushing your teeth. And pack some medicine in case you get diarrhea (Imodium or Pepto Bismol) or constipation (probiotic or laxative).

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The respiratory viral infection, although thought eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, has reemerged, especially among unvaccinated individuals. As of early April 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported more than 600 confirmed cases of measles.

Measles is extremely contagious

"The key to measles is how highly infectious it is. Each person that has measles will infect between 12 and 18 people in an unvaccinated situation," says Doug Kasper, MD, an infectious disease specialist with OSF HealthCare. "The key for controlling measles is widespread vaccine use."

For reference, each influenza patient, on average, will infect one to two others.

The measles vaccine is normally offered once a child has reached one year of age. It's a two-shot series, which came on the market in 1963. Dr. Kasper says this gives medical experts decades of data that show a correlation between people receiving the vaccine, and close to zero circulation of the virus in the United States.

The states with measles outbreaks are in unvaccinated people, and no breakthrough cases (in those who have received the vaccine) have been reported, Dr. Kasper adds.

The long-term risks for unvaccinated measles patients 

"There is emerging information that vaccination not only protects an individual from not becoming ill or having less severity of illness with a viral exposure, whether that's measles, chicken pox, influenza or COVID-19, but that there are long-term risks from viral infections that we do not appreciate in the moment," Dr. Kasper says. "Some of these have been associated with memory loss or dementia as somebody ages. Some of these are associated with organ disease like hepatitis or kidney disease."

Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE)

SSPE is a rare, deadly degenerative disease of the central nervous system that can happen seven to 10 years after a measles infection. Young children, pregnant women and immunocompromised people are the most at-risk for SSPE. One to three out of every 1,000 children who become infected with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications, the CDC says.

SSPE symptoms happen over four stages.

-          Stage 1: Personality changes, mood swings or depression. There may also be fever and headaches, this stage can last up to six months

-          Stage 2: Muscle spasms and uncontrolled movement problems. Loss of vision, dementia and seizures can occur

-          Stage 3: Twisting movements and rigidity. Sometimes death

-          Stage 4: Serious brain damage, including areas of the brain that control breathing, heart rate and blood pressure, leading to coma and death

Immune amnesia

Another long-term impact of measles is known as immune amnesia. The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) calls immune amnesia “one of the most unique and most dangerous features of measles pathogenesis.” The extremely rare condition causes people’s immune systems to “forget” how to fight off infections and makes the person more susceptible. The ASM determined it normally takes two to three years after a measles infection for protective immunity to return.

A measles outbreak was declared in Northeast Illinois in early 2024 and declared “over” by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) in June. The expectation of statewide health experts is that measles will return to Illinois in the coming months. This is mainly due to heavy travel through Chicago airports and summer festivals. County health departments have now been tasked with keeping an eye on their measles vaccine rates and identifying areas where vaccine rates are low. 

Peoria County's measles vaccine rate is quite high, around 95%. But outlying communities in central Illinois have lower vaccine rates, normally more rural counties. Health experts at Michigan Medicine call the Great Lake State “ripe for a measles outbreak,” as only 66% of toddlers receive the recommended childhood immunizations.

Measles symptoms 

"Measles typically presents with a high fever, typically much higher than what we'd see with seasonal colds or influenza. Fevers can be 104 or 105 degrees Fahrenheit," Dr. Kasper says. "That's followed by a runny nose and a characteristic rash. This typically develops on the head and then spreads down the rest of the body."

“We don’t want to go back”

"Measles at its peak, in the 1950s before the vaccine, led to a significant number of hospitalizations in young children. Around 50,000 hospitalizations were estimated per year and about 500 deaths," Dr. Kasper says. "We don't want to go back to that scenario in any capacity, where we have a large number of unvaccinated people. The outcomes could be too severe." 

Immunocompromised people like those who have received an organ transplant, cancer patients or those on long-term therapies that could impact their immune system, are at high risk for measles. 

Why vaccines are so important right now

Summer travel along with large crowds at places like airports and theme parks, will likely bring more measles cases to the United States. 

"This time, as good as any time, is to make sure somebody is updated on their vaccinations. If somebody isn't sure if they were vaccinated as a child, they should talk to their primary care provider about testing or receiving the vaccine. If someone is immunocompromised and they might be at a higher risk for measles through travel in areas that have exposure, they should talk to their primary care provider about the vaccine," Dr. Kasper says. "If someone has young children or is at an age where vaccine is recommended, we wholly recommend for them to discuss with their provider to remain up to date on their vaccine series."

Vaccine hesitancy continues to be a topic of discussion, one that Dr. Kasper recommends patients openly discuss with their medical provider. 

Natural immunity is not a viable option with measles. The highly infectious nature of the virus, along with the severity of symptoms and potential for long-term complications, make it an illness people need to try and avoid entirely. 

To choose a primary care provider, visit the OSF HealthCare website.

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“As president, Eunmee will lead OSF St. Joseph in aligning with the overall strategy of OSF HealthCare. She will be responsible for directing all internal operations and helping OSF evolve when necessary to ensure that high-quality and cost-effective health care continues to be delivered to the patients we are blessed to serve,” said Carol Friesen, CEO for OSF HealthCare’s Eastern Region.

Shim will carry forward a culture of collaboration and integration that provides a safe Mission Partner and patient care environment. She will continue to embrace the Catholic health care heritage and support the Sisters’ Mission of serving with the greatest care and love.

Shim most recently served as president at Adventist Health Care Fort Washington Medical Center in Fort Washington, Maryland. She has served in several executive leadership positions including chief strategy officer, chief operating officer, and chief nursing officer throughout her career, which has provided her with a unique blend of clinical, operational and strategic experience.

Shim earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Sahmyook University in Seoul, Korea and a Master of Science in nursing informatics from Columbia University School of Nursing in New York, New York.

Derrick Frazier will continue to serve as interim president until Shim’s start date in January.

The $5 million expansion will add 7,000 square feet to the existing space, including one additional triage room and six additional treatment rooms. 

The expansion will enhance the ability of Mission Partners to serve patients through innovative space planning to improve efficiencies and connection throughout care delivery. 

"OSF HealthCare remains invested and dedicated to providing exceptional care for our rural communities, which is something we’ve done for over 115 years in the Galesburg community,” said Lisa DeKezel, president of OSF HealthCare St. Mary Medical Center. “This redesign is a crucial step in enhancing the quality care we deliver, elevating patient experiences, and addressing the evolving needs of our community." 

Construction is set to begin by the end of 2024 and is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete. 

During the project, the emergency department will remain open and fully operational, ensuring uninterrupted care for patients. 

However, during the initial phase, patients arriving by car may be re-routed to a nearby adjacent entrance. Signage will be posted to guide patients accordingly. 

"While there will be some inconveniences during construction, the end result will be a vastly improved experience for our patients, visitors, and Mission Partners," DeKezel said.

OSF HealthCare remains committed to “serving persons with the greatest care and love” in the spirit of Christ and following the example of Francis of Assisi. 

The OSF St. Mary Medical Center emergency department redesign reflects this mission. 

“He wasn’t able to do this before,” Burk’s wife Gloria whispers as Michael walked unassisted into OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center in Urbana, Illinois, to talk about the most recent heart procedure that changed his life: a dual leadless pacemaker.

Old vs. new

Pacemakers work to pace a slow heartbeat, which left unchecked can cause fatigue, shortness of breath and fainting. A typical pacemaker includes the battery and circuitry in a device about the size of a Post-it note that’s implanted in the upper chest. Two wires – called leads – wind their way to the heart. One is typically in the right atrium, and the other ends in the right ventricle.

“That type of pacemaker works very well, but there are limitations,” says Michael Broman, PhD, MD, a cardiac electrophysiologist at OSF Heart of Mary who performed Burk’s procedure. “You have a bump here [on the chest]. There’s a scar involved with having the battery placed. Having leads in veins can also cause problems. You can get vein obstructions. Infections can occur.”

Luckily, Dr. Broman says pacemaker technology is evolving yearly. Dual leadless pacemakers, using technology from Abbott, can be an answer to some of the challenges of a traditional pacemaker. It means another option for patients, too. In downstate Illinois, OSF Heart of Mary is the only hospital implanting dual leadless pacemakers outside of a medical trial.

“No battery in the chest. No scar on the chest,” Dr. Broman explains. “Instead, we deploy the system into the leg veins. We use a catheter to deliver very small batteries – about the size of pen caps. One of them sits inside the heart in the right ventricle. The other sits in the right atrium.”

“I was positive about it,” Burk says, recalling when Dr. Broman suggested he try this new option.

Dr. Broman says the devices last 15 to 20 years, longer than the traditional option (also called a transvenous pacemaker). Infection risk is lower, and the devices can communicate with each other within the person and an outside computer that programs the pacemakers.

“The top device says ‘I’m pacing now, and I want you to pace 30 or 40 milliseconds later’ or whatever the interval is,” Dr. Broman says. “They talk to each other and tell each other what to do.”

Dual leadless pacemaker patients typically have to spend the night in the hospital to allow things to heal. But afterward, they have less post-surgery restrictions. No running, jumping or heavy lifting for a couple days instead of weeks.

On the horizon

Dr. Broman says someone who simply has a slow heartbeat can be a candidate for a dual leadless pacemaker. If you have a slow heartbeat and your weak heart can’t pump blood properly, you’d likely need a traditional system.

Still, Dr. Broman recognizes that this is a major advancement in heart care. It’s technology he says electrophysiologists have been waiting for for decades.

“This is just the beginning,” he says. “We’re going to have more cardiac technologies that involve this type of wireless and small devices that fit inside the heart instead of big, bulky devices outside the heart. I’m very excited to see what the future brings.”

It's a problem worth solving, adds Dr. Broman, who notes he does at least two or three pacemaker procedures a week. Americans are living longer, exposing more of them to age-related heart disturbances. There’s not much to do about it aside from daily healthy habits. This leads to medical intervention.

Burk today

After taking part in cardiac rehabilitation at OSF Heart of Mary, Burk now continues his recovery at home.

“It cleared up my balance. I wouldn’t stand up and feel faint,” Burk says. “As it was explained to me, these pacemaker [devices] stimulated the bottom of my heart and increased oxygen flow. That makes me capable of walking a lot better. It’ll improve as time goes on.”

Burk worked for a quarter-century as a railroad car inspector before slowing down in retirement. What’s he looking forward to now with his new lease on life? Taking a train to Portland, Oregon, where he lived for a few years as a child.

“I’ll take what comes in life,” he says with a smile.

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The requirements

Delaney says there are typically three parts to becoming an athletic trainer: a master’s degree, an exam with the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and getting licensed in your state.

“I took a lot of anatomy courses initially [in college]. Kinesiology as well. And then you would transition into actually learning how to evaluate bodies. Joints, injuries – you learn more about them,” Delaney explains. “Psychology of sports medicine is also an emerging area. Sometimes I feel like I can be one-on-one with an athlete not just for sports medicine injuries. But if the athlete is having a bad day, it’s nice to have that connection where they’ll come in and talk to you about other things that are bothering them.”

Delaney says the exam to get licensed used to have an in-person component, but now it’s all online. She says every two years, athletic trainers are required to have continuing education to keep their license.

Day-to-day work

Delaney sees people in the hospital year-round, but her busy season starts in July as high school football teams begin preseason practice. She’ll be with teams at practices and games to provide care for injured athletes or simply help prepare them for competition by taping their ankles and helping them stretch.

“I have a lot of coaches who contact me throughout the summer to evaluate athletes,” Delaney says. “I don’t think athletes truly get a break. In high school, most of them are multi-sport athletes. These injuries can happen at any time.”

Delaney forms friendly relationships with the coaches and players, but she and all trainers know their role is to be an independent eye and ear. In recent years in the college ranks, there have been some high profile examples of coaches trying to influence a doctor or trainer’s decision and rush an injured player back to the field.

“I’ve always had great coaches that I work with,” Delaney says. “We are up front with our coaches right away about the things we’re looking for. If I have an athlete with a concussion, this is what you should expect. So, most coaches are good about knowing what to expect when I tell them ‘This athlete is out.’

“I never want to hold an athlete out if I don’t have to. So when I do, my coaches understand,” Delaney adds.

Misconceptions

For starters, Delaney says athletic trainers can’t give medication to people under age 18.

What they can handle: evaluation and rehabilitation of injuries, which includes casting and bracing.

“When I work in the orthopedic clinic, I can bring the kids in to see me in the office. I already know what their injury is. They trust that we know what we’re doing. Then if I’m the one putting on the cast, they see all of my skills,” Delaney says.

But what’s more chuckle-inducing: when an athlete approaches someone like Delaney asking to get fit and build muscle.

Delaney says she can offer some advice in the weight room. But she’s not a strength coach or personal trainer. Athletic trainers are more like mechanics of the body, akin to a physical therapist.

Getting into the profession

Delaney says if you’re interested in becoming an athletic trainer, talk to one you know.

“I’ll keep speaking out for sports medicine to find people who want to do it,” she says.

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“Over 70% of patients would prefer a setting other than the hospital to spend their last few months of life. We would like to have a patient centered approach and share the options on how they can have their care delivered. Some may feel more comfortable in a hospital environment, but others may want to be home surrounded by family which can happen in our community hospice or hospice home,” says Sarah Overton, Chief Nursing Officer for OSF Medical Group, Home Care and Employee Health. “It can be scary journey, but it doesn’t have to be. Your doctor or care team can explain all the options and you can be in control of the care. At OSF we are here to support our patients and their families through that journey and studies show talking about it reduces patient anxiety.”

Ahead of National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) on Tuesday, April 16, OSF is launching new ways for patients and their families to be proactive when it comes to an end-of-life journey. The day is used as a way to encourage and educate the public and healthcare providers about the importance of advance care planning (ACP).

Resources patients now have: 

• Through OSF MyChart, an online system providing patients access to their electronic medical records, patients can now access tools and resources on an Advance Care Planning page fill out a “Patients Wishes” questionnaire.
• Through MyChart, patients also have the ability to upload any advance care planning documents, enter in health care agent information, and access free healthcare legal documents ahead of their ACP appointment to assist them in their advance care planning journey.
• Enhanced care from medical team to know, understand and respect the patient’s wishes at any time in the patient’s care journey.

OSF care teams will work to connect with the right patient populations and ensure patients, along with their families, take an active and easy role in clearly establishing their goals of care.

“We have started to move into a continuum approach. When we have patients that are identified at risk for illness, and risk for hospitalization, we want to have those informed conversations with the patients and families,” Overton says. “We call those ‘goals of care conversations.’ These would be our physicians and advanced practice providers talking to you and your family to make sure the patient understands their illness, finding out what their wishes are, and seeing how we as healthcare providers can honor them. The benefit is that now we can see that through their entire care journey.”

Steps patients can take:

• Identify who your health care decision makers are that can speak on your behalf when you are unable to speak for yourself.
• Be proactive. Express your wishes and have end-of-life conversations with your family early on and often – as it’s important and things change.
• Keep talking. Continue the conversation with those who may have a say in your health care. The more you talk, the more your loved ones can align with your beliefs, values, and goals for care.

“Naturally, we always think of caregivers as our spouse, parent, or child; but sometimes those people aren’t the right people. So, we really need to talk through what it is that we want with our families. Make it natural. This can be a dinner conversation,” Overton says.

Overton adds that research shows earlier conversations and referrals to palliative and hospice care both prolong life and increase the quality of life.

Video Interview Clips

She was about to become a statistic in a polio epidemic and battle a disease that still impacts her in 2024.

Though polio is nearly eradicated today thanks to childhood vaccinations, both the disease and the shots have garnered headlines lately. This month, Paul Alexander, who spent much of his life in an iron lung, passed away at age 78. And the state of Illinois is combating a measles outbreak, reminding us of the importance of vaccines.

Kemnetz’s story

Kemnetz says the week she got her headache that led to a polio diagnosis was a painful blur.

“All my senses were on high alert,” she says. “The littlest sound was like somebody stomping next to my ear. We had a little night light. I couldn’t even stand to have it on.”

On Sunday, the family doctor made a house call and immediately called for an ambulance. Kemnetz wound up at Mercy Hospital in Urbana, Illinois (now OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center). That next month, she says, was also a blur. Among other things, doctors upon her arrival performed a spinal tap to examine Kemnetz’s spinal fluid. She also recalls waking up one day with doctors preparing to put her in an iron lung to help her breathe.

“I screamed at my parents not to put me in that. I was terrified,” Kemnetz says.

After leaving the hospital, Kemnetz got more treatment near her home before spending over a year at a hospital in New York. There, she reprogrammed her leg muscles to work through repetitious exercises. It’s what we know today as physical therapy. Eventually, she returned to a mostly normal life and a career in real estate.

Polio then vs. now

Albert England, MD, an infectious disease physician at OSF HealthCare, says polio has been around “for a long time.” There’s even evidence of ancient Egyptians having it, he says. The disease is caused by a virus that “invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Other symptoms are flu-like, including fever, difficulty breathing, fatigue, headache, vomiting, a stiff neck and pain in the arms or legs.

Dr. England says today, doctors use ventilators to help sick people who can’t breathe. But back in 1952, the iron lung – which Kemnetz got acquainted with – was the help available for people with polio.

“It produced negative pressure around the patient, allowing the lungs to expand and contract regularly,” Dr. England explains.

“It was like having CPR 24/7,” Kemnetz says of lying in the tube. “So uncomfortable.”

Kemnetz also gave blood to help develop a polio vaccine, the number one way we have come to fight that disease and many others. It’s a topic she’s passionate about today.

“We have to save the children,” she says.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says children should get four doses of the polio vaccine as a part of routine childhood vaccinations. The CDC says while it’s rare, adults who know or suspect they did not get the shots as kids should get them as adults. Adults who are at an increased risk of getting the disease, such as working in a laboratory where the virus may be present, can get a booster shot.

“The vaccine prevents illness by developing antibodies,” Dr. England explains.

Kemnetz today

In 1985, Kemnetz developed post-polio syndrome, a disorder that weakens the nerves and muscles. She says her hands “look nice,” but everyday tasks like writing, eating or shuffling cards are tough.

“There are just not as many neurons providing the strength the people need,” Dr. England says of post-polio syndrome.

But, after being told in 1952 that walking, having children and living a long life was unlikely, Kemnetz is counting her blessings. Among them are the chances to recount her life story with her children and grandchildren.

“I think I thumbed my nose at them pretty good,” she quips about her prognosis back then. “The word ‘can’t’ isn’t in my vocabulary.”

Interview clips

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When talking about the opioid crisis in America, you don’t have to explain much to Howard Marsh.

A first responder for nearly a half century, Marsh has gone on numerous ambulance calls for a suspected overdose.

“It breaks my heart,” says the Advanced Medical Transport paramedic. “I just can’t believe people do this to their bodies.”

New federal data show nearly 108,000 people died of an overdose in 2022. That's up slightly from 2021. It’s a time to know the facts and misconceptions about overdoses, their causes and ways to reverse the deadly effects. One such way is naloxone, known under the brand name Narcan, a medication that has become more available in recent years to both first responders and everyday citizens.

“It’s really a good drug to have around,” Marsh says.

Narcan basics

Les Mennenga is lead educator for East Central Illinois Emergency Medical Services (EMS), an OSF HealthCare organization that trains ambulance workers. He describes Narcan as an opioid antagonist that helps reverse the effects of dangerous drugs like fentanyl, morphine, heroin and Tramadol.

“If we get too much of those medications in our system, they’ll bind with receptor sites in our brain. They’ll slow our breathing and pulse rate down,” Mennenga says. “They can actually stop the signal to our diaphragm and make us stop breathing.”

Conversely, he says, “Narcan gets to those receptor sites, competes with the opioid and will knock it off. It will help the person restore their breathing.”

Mennenga says Narcan does not work with methamphetamine, cocaine and other non-opioids.

At the scene of a suspected overdose, typically the first bits of information come from friends or family of the ailing person. Those people likely know if the person has a history with a certain drug, for example. First responders will also look for drug paraphernalia like needles. Mennenga says if the person is still alert and breathing, they would not qualify for Narcan.

“The only time we should be administering Narcan is if they’re having difficulty breathing,” Mennenga says. “They’ll be unresponsive, snoring-like respirations or not breathing at all.”

Blue lips are another sign, Marsh says.

There are three ways to give Narcan: through a shot into the muscle; intravenous therapy, commonly known as an IV; and the most common and simple way, Mennenga says, is a nasal spray. Mennenga adds that Narcan may be combined with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or a bag valve mask to help restore breathing.

Mennenga says once the person comes to, they might experience withdrawal symptoms like nausea, vomiting or, in rare cases, a seizure or heart issues. First responders will provide more care as needed.

“Go to the hospital and get checked out,” Marsh advises. “We prefer we take you in case something happens in route.”

What you should know

East Central Illinois EMS has rolled out a Narcan leave behind program. The agency provides kits for first responders to leave with friends, family and others after responding to an overdose. The program serves as a reminder that this is an important issue. Experts say survivors are at high risk for repeated overdoses, and Narcan may be the only chance to save their life.

“Overdoses are quite common, unfortunately,” Mennenga says. “Nobody’s immune to the opioid crisis.”

He says if you want a supply of Narcan at home, contact your local health department for options.

Mennenga also says Narcan, shockingly, has some detractors. He says some people think opioid users need to learn the consequences the hard way. But Mennenga, a veteran of the EMS world, says many people who suffer overdoses aren’t your stereotypical drug user. Their use might have started with an injury, leading to pain medication. Or older adults often mix up pills and take too many.

“If they really want to get some help, we can give them resources like their public health department or the state public health department,” Mennenga says.

Learn more

Websites for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services all have information on opioid addiction, treatment and recovery. If you are in crisis, the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is 9-8-8.

Interview clips - Les Mennenga

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Terminology

David Rzepczynski, MD, an OSF HealthCare gastroenterologist, says it’s important to first lay out some similar sounding terminology.

• Diverticulum (singular) or diverticula (plural): These are the bulges that form when an inner part of the colon sticks out through a weak spot in the colon wall.
   
• Diverticulosis: This is the name of the condition when the bulges occur.
   
• Diverticulitis: This describes when the bulges become inflamed.

Causes, symptoms and diagnosis

Dr. Rzepczynski says diverticulosis occurs when your colon is trying to push stool forward, and the organ is not as bulky as it should be. The diverticula bulges then form.

The condition has been more common in people over 60, but Dr. Rzepczynski says health care providers are seeing a rise in cases in people in their 40s and 50s.

Diverticulosis can run in families. It’s also tied to your lifestyle.

“A diet that has more red meat, less grain and less fiber might put you at a higher risk,” Dr. Rzepczynski says.

Smoking, excess alcohol and obesity are also risk factors.

Symptoms of diverticulosis include abdominal pain or constipation. But it often comes with no symptoms and is found during a colonoscopy.

Treatment

Dr. Rzepczynski says in mild cases, a provider may tell you to change your lifestyle, such as getting more fiber in your diet. This makes bowel movements smoother.

“Often, people will look to use fiber supplements,” Dr. Rzepczynski says. “The amount of fiber intake from supplements pales in comparison to what you can get from your diet.”

Also, eat a healthier diet overall. Dr. Rzepczynski says there used to be a myth that nuts, popcorn and seeds would get lodged in the colon bulges. He says studies have shown those foods are not a risk factor.

Other lifestyle tips: exercise and cut out tobacco and alcohol.

Dr. Rzepczynski says more serious cases of diverticulosis can come with two complications. One is bleeding.

“You could have a blood vessel on the outside of the diverticulum. If it ruptures into the diverticulum, it could cause sudden bleeding from the rectum,” Dr. Rzepczynski says.

Dr. Rzepczynski says bleeding from diverticulosis is not common. He ballparks it at around one in 2,000 cases. People on blood thinning medication who develop diverticulosis have a higher risk of bleeding.

While unpleasant, Dr. Rzepczynski says most bleeding cases resolve on their own.

The second, more serious complication is diverticulitis, or when the diverticula bulges become inflamed. This happens when there is a tear in the diverticulum, and bacteria from stool leaks. And it can lead to a host of other problems: pockets of pus known as abscesses, issues passing stool and a urinary tract infection.

Symptoms of diverticulitis include pain in the lower left abdominal area, abnormal bowel movements, nausea and vomiting. If you have these symptoms, it’s important to been seen by a health care provider quickly. A doctor may order a computed tomography scan (commonly called a CT scan) to diagnose diverticulitis.

Dr. Rzepczynski says it’s not common for diverticulosis to progress to diverticulitis, and most cases of diverticulitis can be treated at home with oral medication. But, he says 12 to 15% of diverticulitis patients spend time at the hospital. Treatments there include antibiotic medication through intravenous therapy (IV) and surgery. If surgery is necessary, a doctor will drain any abscesses then remove the inflamed area of the colon.

“They’ll try to reconnect the colon at that time,” Dr. Rzepczynski explains. “But if the surgery is done on an emergency basis, sometimes the person may have a colostomy where part of the colon is coming out through the skin. That’s a temporary measure.”

A colostomy comes with a bag on the outside of your body that collects the waste that would normally leave your body via a bowel movement.

Dr. Rzepczynski warns that surgery isn’t a permanent fix. He says around 15% of diverticulitis patients who have surgery end up with another bout. It reinforces the importance of lifestyle changes. You should also get on a colonoscopy schedule as advised by your health care provider.

Learn more

Read more about how to avoid diverticulosis on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

As many viruses are circulating around our communities, it is paramount to monitor your symptoms and know when the right time is to seek medical care in person. Sarah Overton, the Chief Nursing Officer for OSF Medical Group, Home Care and Employee Health, stresses the importance of virtual care when your symptoms are mild.

“That way we’re not exposing you to anyone in the public and you’re not exposing the health care worker to illness,” Overton says. “Unfortunately, we are seeing an increase in health care worker illness where our nurses and doctors have to stay home because they are being exposed to illness.”

Hospitals across the OSF Ministry have been seeing a spike in COVID-19 patients. If you suspect you have COVID-19 but your symptoms are mild, take an at-home COVID-19 test. The federal government has another stockpile of at-home tests that are free to order on COVID.gov. Every household can receive four free rapid tests. Dr. Brian Curtis, Vice President of Clinical Specialty Services with OSF HealthCare, says taking tests at home will help free up space at medical facilities.

“Coming in just to get tested takes up spots for the people that are really sick or are high-risk,” Dr. Curtis says.

“The Emergency Room is reserved for those true emergencies,” Overton adds. “We have patients that have heart attacks and lung issues with their COPD. Additional patients overflowing the Emergency Room takes away precious time from assessing those patients who shouldn’t be exposed to those viruses while being in our waiting rooms.”

But COVID-19 isn’t the only virus making the rounds in our communities right now. Influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and others are being seen often as well. So how can we stop the spread of viruses?

·         Stay home when you aren’t feeling well.

·         Wash your hands and use hand sanitizer regularly.

·         Cough or sneeze into your elbow.

·         Wipe down high-touch surfaces with disinfectant wipes.

·         Don’t share glasses or silverware with others.

·         Receive the flu shot.

For treating mild symptoms at home, Dr. Curtis offers some guidance for using over-the-counter options.

“You can take Tylenol or Motrin for fevers and aches. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest,” Dr. Curtis says.

Overton says to make sure you read the labels on any over-the-counter medication you buy. If you have any questions, you can ask a retail pharmacist, or send a message through MyChart to your OSF care team.

When is the right time to be seen?

“If you have a super deep cough that’s hanging on for quite a while or have a fever that lasts for several days,” Overton says. “Or if you have high-risk factors and may benefit from some of our medications for COVID, like Paxlovid, which are readily available in our retail pharmacy locations. We also have COVID-19 boosters able to be administered in our primary care offices.”

“There is a medication for influenza, but if you have a mild case, you’ll have more side effects from the medication than you are having from influenza itself. As far as RSV goes, there’s really no treatment for it except for supportive care.”

If you are sick and plan to visit a medical facility, please cover your face with a mask to decrease exposure to the health care workers.

Below you will find data about patient volumes in both the Peoria and Bloomington markets. The 7-day period covers November 28-December 4, and the 30-day period is for November 5-December 4.

Peoria Primary Care visits:

7-day period: 8,302 (1.6% increase from same 7-day period last year)

30-day period: 32,639 (4% increase from same 30-day period last year)

Peoria OnCall Urgent Care visits:

7-day period: 2,643

30-day period: 10,672 (13% increase from month before, 8.1% increase from same 30-day period last year)

Peoria PromptCare visits:

7-day period: 1,743

30-day period: 7,190 (14.3% increase from month prior)

OSF Saint Francis Medical Center Emergency Department - Peoria

7-day period: 1,625 (11.1% increase from week prior)

30-day period: 6,729

OSF St. Joseph Medical Center - Bloomington

Bloomington Primary Care visits:

7-day period: 2,897 (41.5% increase from week before)

30-day period: 11,608

Bloomington OnCall Urgent care visits:

7-day period: 848 (16.8% increase from week before)

30-day period: 3,508 (10.3% increase from month prior)

Bloomington PromptCare

7-day: 1,517

30-day: 6,176 (16.2% increase from month prior)

Sarah Overton Video Interview Clips

Dr. Brian Curtis Video Interview Clips

“I pour coffee, help the waitresses and hostesses, bring out food,” Lindsey describes.

“I make sure everybody’s happy,” he adds warmly.

But on October 6, 2023, just steps away from the restaurant, Lindsey would have a life-changing moment. He says one minute, he was in a vehicle with his cousin. The next, he was waking up in the hospital.

In between, a good Samaritan who happened to be across the street saved Lindsey’s life, thanks to skills learned at OSF HealthCare and an alert from a smartphone app that OSF brought to Champaign.

“I’m very grateful,” Lindsey says.

Lindsey’s boss, Original Pancake House owner Eric Faulkner, can fill in the gaps of that day.

He says Lindsey’s cousin Charles picked him up from work. As they were driving away, Lindsey was laughing and joking, but suddenly slumped over and became unresponsive. Charles pulled into a shopping center parking lot and asked someone to call 9-1-1.

That’s where Shannon Walter enters the story.

A program manager at the Champaign Park District, Walter got some of her cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training at OSF. She was across the street getting lunch when she got an alert on her phone: someone close by needs CPR.

“When I pulled into the parking lot, I could see somebody pulling somebody who was unresponsive out of a vehicle and onto the ground,” Walter says.

That was Lindsey, who was in cardiac arrest, where the heart is not able to pump blood properly.

Walter quickly explained she was CPR-certified, observed Lindsey wasn’t breathing and did chest compressions for around three-and-a-half minutes until first responders arrived.

“I believe that is what saved his life and his brain function,” Faulkner says.

Lindsey agrees.

“She’s an angel,” he says. “It makes me feel really blessed. I’m glad she was there.”

Lindsey and Walter’s twist-of-fate encounter shows the importance of a couple life-saving things you can do in just a few minutes, says Kurt Bloomstrand, MD, medical director for East Central Illinois Emergency Medical Services, an OSF organization that trains first responders and CPR instructors.

One, learn CPR. It’s the missing link between when 9-1-1 is called and when first responders arrive. Dr. Bloomstrand says for cardiac arrest outside a hospital, the chance of survival is around 10%. With bystander CPR and use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), the chance increases fivefold.

Dr. Bloomstrand says good Samaritan laws exist to protect people who give first aid.

“You’re not going to hurt the person. You only have an opportunity to help them,” he says.

If you don’t have time for a CPR class, just remember this: push hard and fast on the center of the chest at 100 to 120 beats per minute. Appropriately, that’s the beat of Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees. Or if you prefer a more contemporary beat, think of the chorus of The Man by Taylor Swift.

“It’s important to never be caught in a situation where you don’t know what to do,” Walter says.

Two, download the PulsePoint app, the app Walter used to jump into action. PulsePoint is a nationwide app that OSF brought to the Champaign area. It’s active in nearly 5,000 other communities. Dr. Bloomstrand explains that when a 
9-1-1 call is made for cardiac arrest, the dispatcher sends the information to first responders. If PulsePoint is active in that area, the information – scrubbed of specifics to protect privacy – also automatically goes to the app. The app then sends an alert to PulsePoint users that CPR is needed and if an AED is nearby.

The fine print for the alerts: the emergency must be in a public place, and the bystander must be within one-fourth of a mile. And within the app, you must turn on CPR alerts and let the app track your location always, not just when you are using the app. That’s necessary to know anytime CPR is needed near you.

“This is how you, as a lay person, can be a hero, a lifesaver and help somebody in need,” Dr. Bloomstrand says.

Lindsey, meanwhile, is going through rehabilitation at OSF. He also got a pacemaker, a small device that creates electrical currents to keep the heart beating at a normal rhythm.

“I feel wonderful,” he says, adding that he hopes to be pouring coffee for customers again soon.

If you would like to learn in detail how to perform CPR or use an AED, there are several options, including visiting the American Heart Association website, or calling your local hospital to see what training is available. There are two versions of the PulsePoint app for download to your smartphone. PulsePoint Respond alerts you to cardiac arrest, and PulsePoint AED allows you to catalog AEDs around you.

Interview clips - Lester Lindsey

Interview clips - Eric Faulkner

Interview clips - Shannon Walter

Interview clips - Dr. Kurt Bloomstrand

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Managing kidney failure is a huge task. But doing so while in a hospital critical care unit makes things even more challenging.

Luckily, a lifeline exists in the form of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), a form of dialysis. Normally, dialysis is an outpatient procedure where a machine does what healthy kidneys normally do – remove fluid and waste from your blood. But sometimes critically ill people are in a hospital bed, and their bodies can’t tolerate the stress of normal dialysis.

That’s where CRRT steps in.

“It’s a very slow filtration of the kidneys while they’re in this acute state. Their body may not be able to compensate for that shifting or removal of the toxins and fluids,” says Keely Nelson, OSF critical care nurse manager.

“It’s supposed to act most like what your kidneys are doing all day, every day,” says April Collins, OSF intensive care unit charge nurse. “Compared to [normal dialysis] three times a week with an aggressive pull of toxins.”

“We run it 24/7, generally five to seven days at a time,” says Leah Hawk, OSF critical care educator.

Nelson, Collins and Hawk have overseen the recent implementation of CRRT at OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center in Alton, Illinois.

Someone, generally, would be on CRRT until their condition improves and they can tolerate normal dialysis. Signs providers watch for include producing urine, better blood pressure readings and changing lab values that indicate better kidney function.

“[CRRT] is extremely critical,” for patients, Nelson says.

“During COVID, the patients were so incredibly sick and could not handle aggressive dialysis in the hospital. If we were able to provide [CRRT] during COVID, that would have helped a lot of patients to slowly remove those fluids while providers are hydrating them and giving them medications.”

Nelson adds that CRRT was already becoming more common at hospitals in the past five years, but the pandemic accelerated things. The concept itself is around 40 years old, she says.

Learn more about kidney care on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips - Keely Nelson

Interview clip - April Collins

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No distance too large for the gift of life
“They are very special people”

Former NFL quarterback, CBS broadcaster and Eastern Illinois University graduate Tony Romo toured OSF Children's Hospital, spending time with some of the kids, sharing laughs, and learning about the services and care OSF Children's Hospital provides throughout central Illinois and beyond.

NBA Champion and Peoria's own Shaun Livingston joined Romo and UFC light heavyweight fighter Dustin Jacoby on the tour. Jacoby grew up in central Illinois and played football at Quincy University for four years. 

The smiles were evident as the kids got to speak with the guys about what they love to do including talking about football and video games.

The visit was made possible through the partnership with Metamora Fields golf course in hosting the OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois Pro-Am tournament June 28 - July 1. More than 100 golfers and celebrities are taking part in the All Pro Tour (APT) event. 

The APT is the largest developmental men's professional golf tour in the US. These events provide an avenue for professional golfers to hone their skills while preparing for a life on the PGA Tour.

Over the past 30 years, the APT has successfully graduated players to the PGA Tour. They include PGA Tour winners Andrew Landry, Brice Garnett, Cameron Beckman, Bubba Watson, and Ryan Palmer. Most recently the APT has seen Hayden Buckley, 2022 Masters Champion Scottie Scheffler, and runner-up Will Zalatoris find success at the highest level of golf. Over 35 players will walk the fairways of the PGA Tour in 2023 that began their career on the All Pro Tour.

B-roll: Tony Romo, Shaun Livingston and Dustin Jacoby visit OSF Children's Hospital 

B-roll: Metamora Fields APT

Warmer temperatures bring the return of pesky insects, especially at dusk.

Experts say while most bug bites are not serious, there are times when you need to see a health care provider immediately.

Most bites can be treated quickly

Andrew Zasada, MD, an internal medicine physician at OSF HealthCare, says treatment of most minor bug bites (think mosquito or bee) is down to a science.

First, move away from the area so the bugs don’t bite you again. If the insect left a stinger behind, gently remove it with tweezers.

“Put some ice on the bite site. Wash it gently. Put a little calamine or hydrocortisone on it. Keep it elevated,” Dr. Zasada says.

Don’t scratch the bite site. Leave it alone and let it heal. For children who may find it difficult not to itch, put a Band-Aid over the bite. You can take an antihistamine like Benadryl, Allegra or Zyrtec for itching and ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain.

If you notice a rapid worsening of symptoms in the 30 to 45 minutes following the bite, or if the wound is not healing over several days, it may be a sign of a more serious problem. See a health care provider.

Serious insect bites

Dr. Zasada says in the Midwest, two types of spiders come with dangerous fangs: black widow and brown recluse.

“These bites can cause tissue destruction at the bite site,” Dr. Zasada explains. “The venom is very potent. It can cause cell death. It’s very irritating.”

If the venom gets into your bloodstream, then chest pain, muscle cramps, sweating and nausea could follow. Dr. Zasada says black widow and brown recluse bites are “very rarely” fatal, but the illness they bring is quite unpleasant.

If you think you’ve been bitten by a black widow or a brown recluse, see a health care provider right away. Your local urgent care is equipped to treat insect bites, but if your symptoms have worsened, the Emergency Department at your local hospital may be the best destination.

Another serious condition to keep an eye on after a bug bite is an allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis.

Symptoms of anaphylaxis include shortness of breath, wheezing and a drop in blood pressure. Dr. Zasada says some people with known allergies may have an EpiPen handy and can inject themselves to alleviate symptoms. Regardless, immediate attention from a medical professional is still needed.

 Leave the critters alone

It’s inevitable that a stroll through the neighborhood will bring an encounter with an insect like an ant or mosquito. But Dr. Zasada says spiders that pack a punch don’t want to mess with humans. They tend to come out at night and live in wooded areas or a dark space in the back of a garage.

In other words, don’t mess with them, and they won’t mess with you.

“When you take clothing out of storage, shake it to make sure there are no spiders,” Dr. Zasada suggests. “When you clean the garage, don’t sit on anything that’s been stored there for a while. Dust it off first.”

Interview clips

Previous coverage

Summer wound care

'Tis the (tick) season

Taylor Swift fans have another reason to celebrate: one of her songs could help save the life of someone in cardiac arrest.

The American Heart Association says Swift's song “The Man” has 110 beats per minute, in the 100-120 beats per minute range for effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

CPR is a life-saving skill. And for Jordan Meeks, a pediatric wellness specialist at OSF HealthCare, it’s a critical skill for young people to learn.

“Most cardiac arrests happen in people 40 years and older, a lot of teachers, parents, grandparents, coaches and those that young people are spending a lot of time with,” Meeks says. “And young people are getting to a point where their body is maturing, so they’re able to do those compressions with enough strength to be helpful.”

Meeks visits schools across Illinois teaching students hands-only CPR. Recently, she was in Fisher, a small, rural town where it might take first responders a little longer to get to an emergency - all the more reason to equip junior high and high school students with CPR skills.

CPR basics

Meeks says CPR is used when someone is unconscious and in cardiac arrest (in other words, having a serious heart problem).

The first thing to do is call 9-1-1. If you’re by yourself, put the phone on speaker while you help the ailing person. Get over the person, interlink your fingers and press hard in the middle of the chest over and over.

“It’s compressing the chest in half at a rate of about 100 beats per minute. Think of the song Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees,” Meeks explains. “The compressions help restore blood flow to the body and brain, which is really important to help preserve that person’s life.”

CPR may also be done alongside an automated external defibrillator (AED), a small device that’s common in schools and workplaces these days. Meeks explains that two pads are applied to the patient’s skin - one near the heart and the other on the person’s side - with wires leading to the AED box.

“It gives you step-by-step instructions. It’s going to tell you when you need to stay clear of the patient. It will analyze the heart’s rhythm to see if it’s regular, irregular or not beating at all,” Meeks says. “Then it will provide instructions on whether to deliver a shock. You press a button to deliver a shock. Then it will tell you to start CPR.”

The AED will then continue the cycle of shocks and CPR until first responders arrive.

Teaching hands-only CPR does not require certification, Meeks says. Someone can easily learn the tools and pass them on to others.

Adding the skillset of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation - when you exhale into a patient’s mouth to help revive them - is a little more involved. Meeks recommends calling your local first responders (police, fire and ambulance), your local hospital or the American Red Cross to learn about those CPR training opportunities.

 Training young people

During her stop in Fisher, Meeks watched as students performed CPR and applied AEDs to manikins. A red light on the manikin meant the compressions were too fast or too slow. A green light signaled a good pace. To Meeks’ delight, there were more green lights than red.

“The manikins are very much like the human body, so the students get a really good, hands-on experience with how CPR works,” Meeks says. “They also learn how to use the AED. Most students know where it is in their school, but they’ve never seen it before. They have no idea how it works.”

You can count Paige Ferguson and Kira Becker, both juniors at Fisher High School, among the adolescents who think the training is valuable.

“You just had to stay at a consistent pace, which was difficult [to start]. But once you got that pace going, it was pretty easy to stay with it,” Ferguson says, describing the training.

“It’s important to know this so you can help friends and teachers in your daily life. You can help save a person’s life,” Becker says.

One of those teachers is Doug Ingold, the health and physical education instructor who asked OSF to train the whole student body.

“It’s great to have hands-on experience. It’s different than just watching a video,” Ingold says. “Having OSF come in and give the students actual practical experience really gives them a good idea of what it takes to do CPR.”

Interview clips - Jordan Meeks

Interview clips - Paige Ferguson and Kira Becker

Interview clips - Doug Ingold

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Previous coverage

One mother's mission: why every parent should know CPR

Turning everyday citizens into life saving heroes

“Handy” heart lesson

Giving you the tools to save a life

Be prepared for SCA with CPR

Teaching high school students not to be bystanders when it comes to CPR

Nearly 800,000 Americans suffer a stroke each year.

Strokes can have life-altering consequences like vision, walking and swallowing difficulties. They also rank in the top five killers of Americans. For each minute a stroke goes untreated, the brain loses around 2 million cells it cannot recover.

“Getting to the hospital quickly – within four and a half hours of your onset of symptoms – is important,” says Leslie Ingold, a registered nurse and stroke coordinator with OSF HealthCare.

A cutting-edge stroke drug rolled out at OSF HealthCare is already turning the tide for people.

Tenecteplase (TNKase ®) can be used in people experiencing a stroke and who meet certain criteria, such as a specific blood pressure, history of brain bleeds, medications taken at home and how quickly they arrived at the emergency department. TNKase is a clot-busting agent that stands to become the gold standard of this type of care, Ingold says.

“It has a lower cost. It’s something providers can mix much, much quicker,” Ingold says. “And it’s given quickly in an IV push over five to 10 seconds, and we’re done.”

TNKase also does a better job than its predecessor at finding and breaking up clots, and there’s a lower risk of bleeding.

“The quicker we can get oxygen flowing back into that brain tissue, the better recovery the person is going to have,” Ingold says.

Why it’s important

The most common type of stroke, an ischemic stroke (also sometimes called an embolic stroke), is when a clot forms and travels to the brain. When watching for one, remember the acronym B.E.F.A.S.T.

• B is for balance: Watch for sudden loss of balance.
• E is for eyes: Check for vision loss or eyes looking askew.
• F is for face: Look for droopiness or an uneven smile.
• A is for arm: Is one arm weak or numb?
• S is for speech: Watch for slurred, slow speech or no speech. Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.
• T is for time. It’s the conclusion to the checklist. Time to call 9-1-1 if someone has these symptoms, even if they go away.

Another type of stroke, a hemorrhagic stroke, is when a blood vessel breaks and blood seeps into brain tissue. Ingold says hemorrhagic strokes are typically caused by a traumatic injury, like falling and hitting your head. Uncontrolled high blood pressure is also a cause.

For either type, when you arrive at the hospital, a provider will take some pictures of your brain and decide the best treatment option.

Prevention

Up to 80% of strokes are preventable, Ingold says. Prevention goes back to what any doctor will tell you is key for a healthy life: control your blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes through diet and exercise. Avoid tobacco, alcohol and drugs. If you have an irregular heartbeat, known as atrial fibrillation, see your cardiologist regularly and follow their instructions. And get established with a primary care provider, too.

Ingold says a stroke takes 3.75 years off a person’s life, on average. And if you have a stroke, you have a 25% chance of having another one.

“We always tell people they really need to be on top of their treatment,” Ingold says. “The signs and symptoms of a possible second stroke may not be the same as the first. In fact, they could be completely different. It just depends on what part of the brain the stroke affects.”

Learn more

Read about stroke care on the OSF HealthCare website.

Previous coverage

OSF HealthCare Newsroom stroke stories
OSF HealthCare stroke blogs

December through April is prime time for strep throat season. But it hasn’t been the amount of cases this month that has OSF HealthCare providers and infectious disease leaders concerned, it’s the severity of the cases. In fact, two children under the age of 10 in central Illinois have died due to strep infections recently. 

“Cases that can cause sepsis or a blood stream infection,” Jamie Almasy, the Director of Infection Prevention for OSF HealthCare says. “Invasive infections caused by the group A Strep bacteria are what we’re seeing more cases of. Invasive means that germs invade parts of the body that are normally free from germs.” 

So how can you prevent getting strep throat? Almasy says the steps are straight forward.

“It’s back to your basics. Really good hand hygiene, make sure you’re covering your cough,” Almasy says. “If you are sick or have symptoms of strep throat, make sure you go and get tested.”

Almasy says strep throat is spread through droplets. Symptoms include a sore throat and fever. She recommends keeping your distance from other people when you are feeling ill and staying up-to-date on your vaccinations.

“Diseases like the flu or chicken pox can increase your risk for catching an invasive strep infection,” she says.

Dr. Brian Curtis, vice president of the clinical specialty services at OSF HealthCare, says the throat isn’t the only place to keep an eye on when looking for strep infection.

“Group A strep can also cause skin infections,” Dr. Curtis says. “It can cause necrotizing fasciitis and then it can also cause an erysipelas, which are very fast-spreading skin and soft tissue infections which people can get very sick very quickly from.”

Dr. Curtis says most strep throat cases are mild, but there are other risk factors that spread quickly, and require a quick response from the patient. If your child has a skin infection or high fever, Dr. Curtis says to have them seen right away.

“They seem to be acting right, then they’re not acting right in a very short period of time,” he says. “If you have a child that has a skin or soft tissue infection that seems to be spreading fairly rapidly, it is best to get them checked out.”

“People who are pre-disposed to that are people who have chicken pox (varicella). It’s a common source of infected pox lesions. That’s why we really encourage people to get the varicella vaccine in their children when they’re able to get it," Dr. Curtis adds.

People who are immunocompromised are also at a higher risk for a more severe strep infection, in addition to individuals undergoing chemotherapy, children under age 1, pregnant women and the elderly, Dr. Curtis says.

“Pregnant women are very susceptible to group A strep,” Dr. Curtis adds.

So why does strep spread so quickly during the December-April timeframe?

“It tends to be a time where people are very close together,” Dr. Curtis says. “Especially in the Midwest or the northern climates with the snow and cold weather. Strep throat is very easy to spread. You can have someone who is an asymptomatic carrier and that can spread it to you. That’s where we recommend people wash their hands frequently, don’t share utensils, and don’t share cups.”

Wondering if you have strep throat versus a sore throat? Dr. Curtis offers some tips on how to tell the difference. “Strep throat tends to be very isolated on sore throat, fever, swollen glands.”

Dr. Curtis adds if you have red eyes and nasal congestion along with the cough and sore throat, that’s normally a viral infection.

Video Interview Clips

Plans to establish a Catholic hospital in Champaign County date back to 1919. Father R.J. Flynn at St. Mary’s Parish in Champaign-Urbana requested the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary to assume responsibility for a new Catholic hospital in the community. At the time, there were no sisters available to meet the request. Sisters of the Holy Cross were available, so the hospital was named Mercy Hospital. Stakeholders held an ambitious but successful fundraising campaign to get the hospital off the ground. An October 1921 headline in the Twin City Review newspaper read, “We are going to build Mercy Hospital. For you. For me. Are you going to do your part?”

The original space that housed Mercy Hospital is no longer standing, but some historical artifacts from the structure were preserved.

In 1989, Mercy Hospital merged with Burnham City Hospital in Champaign to form Covenant Medical Center on the West Park Street site. A stone marker outside OSF Heart of Mary documents this merger. In 1997, the facility joined the Provena Healthcare system and was renamed Provena Covenant Medical Center.

In November 2011, Provena Health and Resurrection Health Care merged, forming Presence Health. The hospital in Urbana became Presence Covenant Medical Center.

In August 2017, OSF HealthCare, under the sponsorship of The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, signed a letter of intent to take ownership of Presence Covenant Medical Center. In February 2018, The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis renamed the hospital OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center to honor the legacy of the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary.

“Access to quality health care and choices among providers are important decisions for residents and employers,” said Urbana Mayor Diane Marlin. “We are fortunate to have OSF Heart of Mary serving our community and congratulate the Ministry as it celebrates a century of health care at the Urbana location.”

T.J. Blakeman, president of the Champaign County History Museum, remarked on the hospital’s significance to the community: “We at the museum hope Champaign County residents join us in celebrating this milestone for OSF and the practice of lifesaving medicine in Champaign County. From its early beginnings as Mercy Hospital to the merger of Burnham Hospital and beyond, we wish to say thank you and recognize the dedicated nurses, physicians and support staff that have maintained this proud and important institution.”

OSF Heart of Mary continues to thrive in 2022, boasting 206 licensed beds, nearly 700 Mission Partners, a 24-hour physician-staffed Emergency Department, and nationwide recognition for treatment of heart failure, perinatal care and total knee and hip replacement. It is home to the area’s only inpatient Adult Behavioral Health unit.

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