The Torch

The new equipment allows Chester Clinic and Memorial Hospital to offer lead testing with a simple finger stick instead of a traditional blood draw from a vein. This service is especially important following the Illinois testing requirement that took effect on July 1, 2026.

Memorial Hospital Outpatient Laboratory personnel anticipate that the AccuVein Vein Finder will improve efficiency, increase patient satisfaction, and assist staff in obtaining blood specimens more quickly and comfortably.

After 50 years with Memorial Hospital, Carol Buckholtz, Accounts Payable Specialist, is retiring and leaving behind a legacy that has touched countless patients, coworkers, and generations of healthcare professionals.

Memorial Hospital is pleased to welcome Lindsay Gwaltney, MSN, FNP-BC, BC-ADM, to its Specialty Clinic team. Gwaltney will provide outpatient nephrology services in collaboration with Dr. Vamsi Chilluru, expanding access to specialized kidney care for patients throughout the region.

The AHEC Rural Health Experience program allows students to shadow healthcare professionals in multiple disciplines while learning about the social, economic, and health characteristics that shape rural communities. Memorial Hospital is proud to partner with programs like AHEC's Rural Health Experience to provide students with meaningful exposure to rural medicine and the many career opportunities available in healthcare.

The upgraded system improves reliability during emergencies and outages, while supporting clear communication with EMS teams and other hospitals when needed.

Memorial Hospital is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Matthew Marino, board-certified Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery specialist, to the Specialty Clinic team beginning in August 2026.

Memorial Hospital is celebrating a major milestone as its Lung Cancer Screening Program surpasses more than 700 patients screened over the past decade. Lung cancer remains one of the most common and deadliest cancers worldwide, in part because it often develops without noticeable symptoms until it has progressed to later stages. Lung screenings that can detect cancer early when treatment is most effective and survival rates are significantly higher.

Memorial Hospital is proud to announce that Rhonda Mott, Lead Radiologic Technologist, has been named the 2026 Healthcare Mentor of the Year by South Central Illinois Area Health Education Center (AHEC) in recognition of her extraordinary commitment to mentoring and developing future healthcare professionals.

We’re proud to welcome two experienced ear, nose, and throat specialists, Dr. Rebecca Brandsted and Dr. John Park, to our Specialty Clinic this June. Appointments are now being scheduled for both providers. Talk to your primary care provider about a referral today. To learn more or schedule an appointment, call Memorial Hospital Specialty Clinic at (618) 826-4581 ext. 1366.

Throughout the camp, participants received an up-close and personal look at the many opportunities within the medical field, hearing from 13 different healthcare professions and engaging in interactive demonstrations across multiple departments.

Memorial Hospital recently partnered with the Chester Police Department to provide an impactful Verbal and Physical De‑Escalation Training for staff, reinforcing the hospital’s ongoing commitment to workplace safety and high‑quality patient care. The training emphasized proactive safety measures, situational awareness, and communication strategies designed to reduce escalation before it becomes physical.

Memorial Community Pharmacy is proud to partner with the Randolph County Health Department to expand access to a vital public health initiative offering free sharps containers and safe disposal services to Randolph County residents. “Providing free sharps containers through our pharmacy is one more way we can help patients safely manage their healthcare at home while protecting the broader community.”

Memorial Hospital is proud to recognize Haley Fulmer, ORT, for her recent graduation and outstanding performance as a valued member of the perioperative team.

Memorial Hospital is proud to recognize Kristina Jany, RN, for earning the Nurse Lead III (Expert) designation through the hospital’s Professional Practice Development Program. This recognition honors nurses who demonstrate a high level of professional growth, leadership, continued learning, and commitment to excellent patient care.

Memorial Hospital is proud to celebrate Alyssa Williams, RN, on completing the hospital’s 18-week Nurse Residency Program, where she gained experience caring for patients in both the Medical-Surgical Unit and Emergency Room.

By applying what they learned at the conference, the team continues to uphold Memorial Hospital’s value of Excellence committing to ongoing education, embracing innovation, and taking pride in providing the best possible care for their patients.

Memorial Hospital is proud to announce that Kaila Jerkatis, a senior at Gibault High School, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Memorial Hospital Medical Explorers Scholarship.

Memorial Hospital in Chester, IL is currently accepting applications through June 1, 2026 for nursing and healthcare career scholarships. Awards range from $1,000-$8,000.

On May 8, 2026, Memorial Hospital of Chester held its DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses recognition ceremony. Nominees for the first half of 2026 were presented with a pin and certificate. The nominees included Brittany Casarez, RN and Rebekah Luthy, BSN, RN from Memorial Hospital, and Robin Bixby, LPN and Molly Ebers, LPN from the Rural Health Clinics.