Summer 2022 3 THE JOURNEY is published as a community service for the friends and patrons of RIVERSIDE HEALTHCARE, 350 N. Wall St., Kankakee, IL 60901, telephone (815) 933-1671, RiversideHealthcare.org. HEALTHCARE Information in THE JOURNEY comes from a wide range of medical experts. It should not be considered or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your health care provider. Models may be used in photos and illustrations. 2022 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Follow Us Helping you be the healthiest you Welcome to another issue of The Journey. We’re grateful for the positive response we have received as we showcase the amazing work being done by our great staff. Additionally, we hope to share engaging and valuable information about what you can do to be the healthiest you. Good health makes the journey better for all of us, and that has certainly been the case for Sharon Monson, featured in this issue’s cover story. Someone who had always been very active, Sharon’s life was interrupted by back pain. She spent years searching for relief to the pain that was causing her to miss out on the many things she enjoyed. Finally, Riverside neurosurgeon Juan Jimenez, MD, and his team were able to provide Sharon the relief she sought. It ’s rewarding to know Riverside could play a part in the work Sharon did to reclaim the life she wanted. We are in the midst of an active season. I do hope, however, that you are able to take a few minutes to read about Sharon’s journey to an improved life and about other ways to help you get the most out of your journey. Best of health, Phillip Kambic, President and CEO, Riverside Healthcare EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT PROJECT Phase 1 is done! Riverside Healthcare entered the next generation of emergency medicine on June 8, with the completion of phase 1 of the emergency department (ED) renovation. The first major change patients will notice is the new patient-only entrance, located by the A Entrance (South Entrance) of the hospital. The ambulance canopy is now for ambulances only. This feature enhances safety and security. With 35 patient care areas, Riverside’s new ED is better equipped to meet the needs of the community. Patient privacy was a priority in the new design, and now each patient room is private. There are also two consult rooms for families awaiting news about their loved ones. The new layout features six rapid assessment rooms to address minor procedures such as blood draws and stitches, which improves efficiency. Improved care for treating survivors of sexual assault was also part of the new design. A special treatment room offers extra privacy, including a private bathroom and shower. Additionally, the new ED features two adjacent trauma rooms connected with a physician pass-thru, allowing for staff to efficiently go from one trauma room to the other. Technology in the new ED is also a focal point. Each patient room has an outer screen alerting ED staff members of any special concerns regarding care, such as fall risk or allergies. The new ED is also able to become a negative pressure space to prevent the spread of airborne diseases, like COVID-19 or the flu. In phase 2 of the ED project, expected to be completed later this year, behavioral health rooms will be added. These can be converted to a safer, more secure environment for patients needing mental health care. For when to go to the emergency room or immediate care, see the article on page 16.
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