Memorial Hospital Receives Statewide Pinnacle Award for Community Outreach Excellence
Memorial Hospital has been recognized by the Illinois Society for Healthcare Marketing and Public Relations (ISHMPR) with an Award of Merit in the Community Outreach category for its Strategic Medical Office Building Transition, a comprehensive community engagement and communication campaign surrounding the transition of healthcare services to the hospital's new Medical Office Building.
The award was presented during the ISHMPR Annual Conference and Pinnacle Awards, held October 6-8 in Rockford. The Pinnacle Awards recognize excellence and achievement in healthcare marketing, communications, and public relations across Illinois, honoring projects that demonstrate effective planning, implementation, and measurable results. Memorial Hospital's award-winning submission was led by Brett Bollmann, CEO; Torrie Davitz, Rural Health Clinic Director; and Mariah Bargman, Marketing and Community Relations Manager.
The recognized project focused on helping patients and community members smoothly navigate the relocation of Chester Clinic and Convenient Care services into Memorial Hospital's new Medical Office Building. The outreach effort supported a larger strategic initiative aimed at improving access to healthcare services across the region. Findings from Memorial Hospital's 2023 Community Health Needs Assessment identified access to local healthcare services, including urgent and primary care, as a top community priority.
"The Medical Office Building was designed with our community's needs in mind," said Brett Bollmann, CEO of Memorial Hospital. "This recognition reflects our commitment to ensuring patients not only have access to high-quality healthcare services close to home, but also understand how to access those services. Every communication effort was focused on making the transition seamless and improving the overall patient experience."
Through a coordinated outreach campaign that included direct mail, social media, newspaper and radio advertising, website communications, community signage, and internal staff education, Memorial Hospital successfully guided patients through the transition while increasing awareness of expanded healthcare services available within the new facility. The Medical Office Building now provides centralized access to primary care and urgent care, with ancillary hospital services like diagnostic imaging, outpatient lab, and pharmacy resources at the same location.
The centralized model has improved convenience for patients, strengthened care coordination, enhanced access to providers, and increased utilization of pharmacy and diagnostic services. Patient feedback has highlighted improved accessibility, privacy, comfort, and overall care experience.
The award also recognizes Memorial Hospital's broader investment in rural healthcare access. As part of the Medical Office Building initiative, the organization expanded its primary care workforce with the addition of two family physicians and four advanced practice providers, helping address healthcare workforce shortages while improving access to care for residents throughout the region.
"This project demonstrates the impact that thoughtful planning, strong communication, and community-focused healthcare can have on patient outcomes," said Bollmann. "We're proud of the team members who made this project successful and grateful to the community for placing their trust in Memorial Hospital."
