OSF looks to future

Dec. 28—DANVILLE — Construction at OSF HealthCare Sacred Heart Medical Center in Danville continues on the fourth-floor renovation project.

Other construction work this year included typical upkeep, roof repairs, generator work, etc.

Concrete replacement occurred outside the emergency department due to the age of the concrete. It was wearing down and needed to be redone, officials stated.

This year also saw Phase 2 renovations completed at the OSF HealthCare Bobette Steely Hegeler Cancer Care Center, located west of the hospital.

The $750,000 in upgrades included increasing the number of exam rooms from two to five. Each room has new furniture and equipment, sliding doors and touch screen wall monitors.

The patient discharge room also was renovated and moved from the back of the building to the front to allow for better flow and more privacy.

Cancer care center employees now have new and improved workstations.

Three private bays for infusion therapy are now walled off by doors instead of curtains for increased privacy.

Phase 1 of the cancer center expansion saw installation of a new state-of-the-art linear accelerator for radiation treatment in March 2022.

Phase 3 is planned for three to four years down the road. OSF HealthCare leaders hope to expand the cancer center's physical footprint to offer new services and amenities, such as visiting oncologists, an education room, pastoral care and physical therapy.

OSF President Ned Hill said fourth-floor renovations are underway now in the hospital. This is where patients spend an evening or more for medical services. It was built in 1980 and it's not had a lot of upgrades since then, Hill said.

They're redoing the floors, paint and countertops and other items in the patient rooms.

Hill said they're excited to see it completed. Renovations will be completed in two parts. Four West will be completed first and then Four East, moving patients in each ward respectively.

"The project has already begun. We're still working on finishing the funding for that," Hill had said, adding about price escalations occurring on items.

Hopefully in just under a year, they should be done with the renovations, Hill said.

The Family Birthing Center at OSF HealthCare Sacred Heart Medical Center also reopened in September and is serving expectant mothers again.

The birthing center closure started in October 2022 due to the lack of obstetric providers in the area.

"We're super excited about it. There's no doubt, never has been, nor is the future of, this community needs (obstetric) services. There's lots of babies being born in the Danville, Vermilion County market. So, we're very excited to have this service back up and going. It's been a long time ...," Hill said.

The number of providers delivering babies was to grow with the volume, with at least four starting out.

Before the hospital stopped birthing center operations last fall due to lack of staffing, it was seeing 400-450 births a year.

"We expect that to increase to 600, 700, 800 per year because those births are already happening, just not happening right now in Vermilion County," Hill said.

"So, if we get to that number, it'll be more than four," he added about five, six or seven OB-GYNs (obstetrician-gynecologists) to handle the volume. "The volume is already here. It's just a matter of do we have the capacities, the providers, the staff, the services to keep them, and now we do."

"We are committed to providing exceptional care and are so appreciative of the community's patience as we worked hard to get the birthing center up and running again," Hill said.

With labor and delivery services at OSF Sacred Heart resuming, OSF was partnering with Carle and South Carolina-based Ob Hospitalist Group to bring dedicated obstetrics providers to OSF Sacred Heart, in addition to OSF mission partners staffing the unit. Patients also noticed cosmetic upgrades in the birthing center.

"We are excited to reestablish our partnership with Carle to bring obstetrical services back to this wonderful community. Health care can be complicated. So, when health systems collaborate, it means a better experience for the entire community," Hill said.

In addition, more digital tools are being used in Danville to supplement in-person care. OSF offers a hybrid model of in-person visits and digital tools for women who prefer to take advantage of some virtual offerings, whether to help busy patients with scheduling conflicts or transportation concerns. For example, OSF can offer a virtual visit for every other visit throughout a healthy pregnancy. OSF lactation experts also offer virtual lactation assistance to any woman, regardless of geographic location.