Designed to significantly improve diagnostic accuracy, efficiency and patient access, the Omni Legend represents a major advancement in mobile PET/CT capabilities for both rural and urban populations.  As is tradition for OSF HealthCare, the mobile unit was officially blessed during a ceremony in Pontiac, Illinois where the first patient will receive services using the new mobile platform.

“We’re proud to be partnering with Shared Medical Services on our new PET/CT mobile unit to increase patient capacity and reduce pressure on our in-house scanners,” said Derrick Frasier, president of OSF HealthCare Saint James – John W. Albrecht Medical Center in Pontiac. “The rapid deployment and the consistency of technology will enhance the quality of care and ultimately allow patients to receive timely scans closer to home.”

The mobile unit will be rotating among hospitals within the OSF Ministry with this current schedule:

• Monday (every other)-OSF HealthCare Saint Clare Medical Center in Princeton
• Tuesday-OSF HealthCare Saint James – John W. Albrecht Medical Center in Pontiac
• Wednesday-OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Evergreen Park
• Thursday-OSF Healthcare Holy Family Medical Center in Monmouth
• Friday-OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Medical Center in Alton
• Saturday-OSF HealthCare Sacred Heart Medical Center in Danville

The GE HealthCare Omni Legend Digital PET/CT platform delivers exceptional sensitivity and resolution through its novel digital detector technology, enabling improved lesion detectability and more personalized treatment planning. The system also incorporates AI-enabled workflow tools that simplify scanner operation, reduce manual steps and help improve scan consistency. Faster scan times and lower dose capabilities support a more comfortable patient experience while maintaining high diagnostic confidence.

Kate Barth, vice president, OnDemand Services, and chief nursing officer, OSF OnCall, emphasized the value of this collaboration. “Demand for PET/CT imaging continues to grow—especially for cancer and cardiac care. SMS has been a strong partner, supporting our protocols, helping launch the mobile service, and ensuring a smooth workflow for our Mission Partners (employees) and those we serve.”

Barth continued, “Our Mission is to provide the greatest care and love to our patients, and expanding access to advanced imaging is an important part of that. This partnership with SMS helps us get patients scheduled faster while maintaining the extraordinary level of care for which OSF is known.”

President of Shared Medical Services, Maureen Kenney, added, "The efficiency of this technology from GE HealthCare creates a win-win for providers and patients. Bringing high-performance precision digital PET/CT into our mobile fleet expands access to advanced cancer and cardiac imaging.”

Video clips of Derrick Frasier and Kate Barth

B-roll-Mobile CT-PET Imaging Facility Blessing

This unique approach to care provides guidance and education beyond routine visits and 24/7 digital connection to a care team to allow people to stay on top of their own health.

Highlights of the unique features:

·         In-person or virtual visits, including extended and after-hours care
·         24/7 access to your care team and digital health monitoring tools
·         Help with appointment scheduling and coordination, insurance referrals and pre-visit planning to maximize time with
          their provider
·         On-site labs for convenience
·         Personalized care plans with group education and support to better understand your health conditions

OSF CompleteCare 55+ is a service of OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center.

The facility features:

·         Lobby area with coffee bar, fireplace and USB plug-ins
·         A Connect Bar for education where navigators will help patients set up Bluetooth wearables or 
          communication devices
·         12 exam and treatment rooms equipped for virtual visits
·         Opportunities for group visits, group education, or support with device technology or remote patient 
          monitoring equipment
·         Family consult room for private discussions that can include extended family or support individuals  

Many people 55 and older are balancing the responsibilities of caring for children, grandchildren and elderly parents, while still working themselves,” says Kathleen Kinsella, president of OSF Little Company of Mary. “This age group is busy! Because of that, their own health care needs often take a back seat. That’s why we created a new kind of primary care that offers appointments outside of traditional business hours, virtual options and care coordinators who can help you make connections to specialists when needed.”

Kate Barth, chief nursing officer and vice president, On Demand Services, OSF OnCall, says in designing the program, OSF held listening sessions with 55 and older community members about what features they would like to see in a new approach to primary care.

 “We learned people want a choice of in-person or virtual visits, onsite lab services, help with care coordination and pre-visit coordination to maximize time with medical providers,” Barth shares. “Care navigators can also help deal with insurance issues, coordinating appointments with specialists, and extended clinic hours were features that came out of those listening sessions.”

Sandy Valino Stock, DO, is the medical director of the new OSF CompleteCare 55+ clinic. She has cared for patients with complex chronic conditions for more than 17 years through traditional primary care and concierge medicine models. She is passionate about serving communities and optimizing her patients’ health through a personalized, proactive approach. Dr. Valino Stock stresses CompleteCare 55+ strives to keep an aging population healthy and navigate the complex health care system when they are sick.  

“The new model from OSF HealthCare differentiates itself from other primary care models by using a team approach to care for patients with multiple medical conditions. OSF CompleteCare 55+ utilizes technology to provide remote patient monitoring, 24/7 telemedicine support, while personalizing a patient’s health care journey. Chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease take a toll on not only the patients but also those who care for them. Our team at OSF CompleteCare 55+ eases these challenges.” 

Here's the website for more information, including frequently asked questions or to get started with OSF CompleteCare 55+.  

Kathleen Kinsella and Kate Barth

Dr. Sandy Valino Stock

B-roll of OSF CompleteCare 55+ Clinic and Blessing

As we begin a new year at OSF HealthCare, we’re reflecting on 2024 and the major strides in digital transformation to make access to care and health information seamless for our patients. At OSF, we continue to collaborate with our academic and business partners to leverage collective expertise and to responsibly use the power of artificial intelligence, always taking care to use guiding principles of what is fair, appropriate, valid, effective and safe (FAVES).

The efforts are highlighted here in our Top 10 Digital Health and Innovation stories of 2024 in no particular order.

1. OSF Unveils new 55+ primary care service in south suburban Chicago: Called OSF Complete Care 55+, this is a unique collaboration between OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center and OSF OnCall, the digital arm of the health care Ministry. When launched in early 2025, this primary care program will incorporate in-person visits, plus a mix of virtual care, digital health monitoring tools and 24/7 access to a care team focusing on those with chronic conditions.

2. Building an AI prepared workforce: OSF HealthCare leaders took just six weeks to develop mandatory training about generative AI for all 24,000 OSF Mission Partners (employees) because tools were already publicly available. Melissa Knuth, Vice President of Planning, outlines that to rise to the challenge, she worked with OSF Innovation to use mixed media to keep the content interesting and tapped generative AI tools to assist with the content creation.

3. OSF Digital Hospital patients in Rockford area say it’s the best medicine: OSF OnCall expands its digital hospital program to Rockford and receives rave reviews from some of its first patients. In addition, a well-known farm broadcaster shares her story about receiving acute-level care from the comfort of her own home and urges others who are eligible to consider the option.

4. OSF Innovation sets the table for solution to prevent cancelled surgeries: Two OSF HealthCare nurses turned to the OSF Innovation Studio team to help improve their Device Table software that serves as a database for implanted medical devices – offering information needed for surgical teams to reference for safety in surgery planning. We also reported on the creation of a spin-off company, OpenSurg, which will license and promote widespread sales of Device Table and related support features.

5. OSF HealthCare experts: ‘Establish guiding principles when developing digital care strategy’: OSF OnCall was a spotlight vendor and presenter at this year’s American Telemedicine Association’s annual Nexus conference in Phoenix, Arizona. OSF OnCall Senior Vice President Jennifer Junis advised during her presentation that health systems use guiding principles when developing their approach to digital health and to involve clinicians and patients when piloting new programs and digital tools. OSF HealthCare has also become a founding member of an ATA Digital Center of Excellence.

6. Mapping the future for early diagnosis of rare diseases: A Jump ARCHES grant-funded project with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is using generative AI and knowledge graphs that map symptoms to detect rare diseases. Adam Cross, MD, who leads the OSF Children's Innovation Lab in Peoria, Illinois, wants to create a point-of-care tool for primary care providers to help patients get an early diagnosis of a rare disease.

7. Health economist: Connectivity and trust can expand telehealth: OSF OnCall hosted its first-ever digital health symposium which drew nearly 150 clinicians and vendors. Keynote speaker health economist and advisor Jane Sarasohn-Kahn stressed evidence-based digital technologies can improve health outcomes, but health systems need to build trust and expand community partnerships to increase engagements.

8. Fast-Tracking Hope: Rapid Intake at the OSF Cancer Institute: OSF HealthCare began 2024 with the opening of its new comprehensive Cancer Institute, offering advanced radiation therapy such as brachytherapy and proton beam therapy.  It also launched a new rapid intake system, developed by OSF OnCall and OSF Innovation to offer a single point of contact through OSF-HOPE (844- 673-4467) so cancer patients can be immediately connected to treatment and support services.

9. Piloting a smarter colonoscopy: OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center piloted artificial intelligence-backed colonoscopies, using a company called GI Genius, to improve detection of precancerous polyps. During the pilot, the adenoma detection rate (ADR) averages increased among all patients involved to as high as 12%, while individual physician ADR increased as high as 32.8%. The technology is now being implemented across the OSF Ministry.

10. Testing the path to better concussion diagnosis: An OSF Innovation lab-designed FlightPath app is now being tested by athletes at Illinois State, Bradley and Illinois Wesleyan Universities. The app only takes about two minutes to collect more than a million data points as a person tries to catch a hummingbird within a 3D space on a screen. The clinical trial could last two years. 

The new care model is focused on individuals who are looking for a more personalized way to stay on top of their own health. We understand adults may be juggling the care of aging parents or grandchildren or both, managing work schedules or just generally navigating busy daily calendars, that often result in deprioritizing their own office visit. The service focuses on easy communication, self-scheduling, navigation and 24/7 support. During a construction update for the 6,300-square-foot building at 9858 S. Western Ave., in Evergreen Park, leaders outlined specifics about the modern look and feel of the clinic, along with what patients can expect from this new primary care model designed specifically to meet the needs of 55+ health consumers.

The unique service will include:

• The ability to choose how you access the care – whether that’s in person at the clinic, virtual or in your home
•  A care navigator who will be available to help guide care across the continuum with things like insurance questions or specialty care coordination
•  Remote patient monitoring which provides blood pressure cuff, scales, oxygen monitoring, and much more in your home that integrates into our medical records to ensure our care team can provide more consistent monitoring to proactively manage the chronic condition
• Group visit to provide education and support around chronic conditions as we know having support is key to success

The new clinic will feature:

• Lobby area with coffee bar, fireplace and USB plug-ins
• A Connect Bar for education where navigators will help patients set up Bluetooth wearables or communication device
• 10 exam and treatment rooms equipped for virtual visits
• Education room for group visits for education, device training, condition tracking and management
• Family consult room for private discussions that can include extended family or support individuals

“Many people 55+ are beginning to manage chronic conditions – such as diabetes, heart problems, or arthritis - and often more than one. For people in this phase of their life, OSF is excited to bring a new, proactive approach to care that gives patients multiple opportunities to access treatment and support,” OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center President Kathleen Kinsella stressed. She added, “While this building will be the physical location, this primary care program will extend beyond these walls by incorporating a mix of virtual care, digital health monitoring tools and 24/7 access to your care team.”

National Institutes of Health Research shows more than one-third of caregivers continue to provide intense care to others while suffering from poor health themselves. This highlights the importance of providing easier options for staying on top of chronic conditions for this 55+ population.

This new program is a unique collaboration between OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center and OSF OnCall, the digital arm of OSF HealthCare which has delivered convenient and custom digital health solutions to individuals for more than 10 years. 

 “At the forefront of this model are our care navigators who offer a genuine point of contact for patients, helping to coordinate all the patients’ health needs,” said Kate Barth, chief nursing officer and vice president, On-Demand Services, OSF OnCall. “Navigators pull in resources from a multidisciplinary care team to personalize the care experience and help patients choose the care that best fits their lifestyle, whether it be a virtual visit with a specialist, a primary care appointment right here in this building or setting up remote monitoring tools in a patient’s home to regularly check vitals.”

The clinic construction will take several months with a planned opening in spring of 2025.

Video clips with Kate Barth and Kathleen Kinsella

OSF OnCall Urgent Care clinics are located near neighborhoods and shopping areas where, historically, health care providers have not been located. The placement offers convenience and a more modern setting that has the feel of a lounge or café rather than a traditional doctor’s office, and it offers greater ease of access to care. Charging stations, free coffee, water or hot chocolate, blankets during the cold weather, and a large family treatment room allows for children to accompany a parent and siblings.

The new OSF OnCall urgent care will be at 661 S. Peace Road, Ste. 101 in Sycamore. The new clinic is scheduled to open July 29, with a soft launch providing health assessments and treatment Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Eventually, operations will expand to weekends. Walk-ins are welcome or online reservations are available at osfoncall.org.

OSF OnCall Urgent Care is staffed by experienced care guides, a radiology technologist and an advanced practice provider. Providers deliver basic urgent care services such as treatment for cold, cough, flu, sprains, minor lacerations and fractures, school and sports physicals, urinary tract and upper respiratory infections among other minor ailments and conditions. The sites have X-ray and diagnostic laboratory services available as needed for treatment. Additionally, many common medicines, such as antibiotics, will be dispensed onsite, so many patients will be able to skip the trip to the pharmacy.

“From busy parents to college students and retirees, we also know there’s a need for safe, high-quality, hyper-convenient and affordable health care and OnCall Urgent Care opens the doors to provide just that. The easy access – whether in-person, or virtually – offers urgent care without the hassle and cost of a trip to the emergency department,” Barth stressed.

“The addition of the new OSF OnCall option in Sycamore allows us to serve area residents where and when they need it. OSF OnCall Virtual Urgent Care is also available when people need care after hours,” Barth stressed.“ OSF OnCall Urgent Care is a wonderful service that embraces a modern urgent care concept, so we are able to provide quick, high-quality care for on-the-go patients.”

Anyone experiencing a medical emergency or symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, or severe abdominal pain should go directly to the nearest emergency department or call 9-1-1.

B-Roll

Your toddler spent the day in the pool and now has a weird rash that’s kept her up all night. You’re feeling a familiar pain, and you just know it’s a urinary tract infection but you’re leaving for vacation in the morning.

These are typical summertime scenarios, and instead of having to wait until a walk-in clinic opens, OSF OnCall Urgent Care offers virtual care options that are available 24/7 year-round, including holidays and weekends. 

Kate Barth, vice president/chief nursing officer for On-Demand Services, OSF OnCall, says consumers want health care options that are convenient, like what they’re used to experiencing with online shopping and banking, so OSF offers lower-cost, easy virtual urgent care options, especially when a minor illness or injury happens after hours.

“It’s the mom with multiple children who are sleeping and (she thinks) ‘I have a sick kiddo who I cannot console and what do I do?’ Seeking out virtual urgent care in those options is such a great opportunity to connect with a provider who typically would serve you in that urgent care setting.”

 AAA projects Independence Day travelers will set new records both nationwide and in Illinois. More than 70.9 million people around the U.S. are expected to travel 50 miles or more away from home with 4.1 million being Illinoisans. Barth says if you’re away from home, no problem.

If there’s Wi-Fi, internet or a hotspot near a campsite or at a hotel, a video visit with an OSF OnCall provider could be more convenient than finding the nearest walk-in clinic.

Individuals who want to virtually access OSF OnCall Urgent Care can select an online interview (taking between 5-15 minutes) where they’re asked a series of questions about symptoms and how they’re feeling. Their information will be reviewed within an hour. Using a chat feature, additional information could be requested before an OSF HealthCare provider offers a treatment plan. 

“Maybe the provider would need to visualize the bug bite or something that looks like a rash, so we do have that video option also available to be able to assess that situation and be able to give a diagnosis in that case as well.”

If treatment requires medication, a prescription can be sent to the pharmacy of the individual’s choice.

What happens if the online consult or video visit reveals someone needs to be seen in-person?

“We all know there are things that sometimes can’t be virtually treated. Sometimes a lab test may be needed, or a hands-on assessment might be needed to confirm a diagnosis. In that case, we simply refund that virtual visit knowing that it is best-case scenario for you to be seen in an actual urgent care setting.”

For example, sprains and strains can usually be assessed virtually, but broken bones can only be confirmed through an X-ray, which is available at an OSF OnCall Urgent Care walk-in location.

Barth points out, those walk-in clinics also offer more than simple urgent care.

“Employee physicals or drug testing as well as those school and sports physicals that we always catch ourselves running behind on where at the last minute a child says, ‘I need this for tomorrow!’”

The cost of virtual care is less than an in-person visit. An online interview is $30 and a video visit, typically lasting between 15 to 25 minutes, is $60. OSF OnCall Urgent Care accepts a wide variety of insurance plans. Medicare patients are welcome to use an OSF OnCall Urgent Care option, however a virtual visit is not currently reimbursed.

Anyone experiencing a medical emergency or symptoms such as chest pain, breathing difficulty or severe abdominal pain should go directly to the nearest emergency department or call 9-1-1.

Video Clips of Kate Barth

B-roll of Virtual Urgent Care