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What most women accept as normal as they age and have children is not medically the case. Pelvic floor therapy does not only help control dribbles while coughing or laughing, there are so many great benefits and most women don't know there is help. Kristyn Riley, Women's Health Physical Therapist at the Therapy and Sports Rehab Center specializes in treatment and therapy for many conditions that may be causing pain, discomfort, and disruptions to women's daily lives. "Through therapy many women start to see results in just a few sessions," explains Kristyn. "What I love most about Women's Health PT is helping women of all ages and backgrounds make a drastic difference in their daily lives, in just a matter of a few treatment sessions." What is a Pelvic Floor? Everyone has a pelvic floor. It's made up of the muscles that support the urinary and reproductive tracts. These muscles also control your bladder and bowels. The pelvic floor muscles attach your pubic bone to your tailbone and in between your sit bones to make up the floor of your core. Functions include: support for your abdominal and pelvic organs, controlling your ability to hold or release contents of your bladder and bowels, sexual function, and posture. A women's health physical therapist goes through additional post graduate training to evaluate and treat musculoskeletal conditions specific to women, including: Pregnancy and post-partum related issues Pelvic pain Urinary or fecal incontinence Pelvic organ prolapse Pelvic floor muscles can become stretched during childbirth, weak with aging, or hypertonic with increased stress. Do I Need to See a Woman's Health Physical Therapist? If you experience any of the following, you may benefit from seeing a women's health PT: Leaking of urine or feces when you cough, sneeze, jump, or perform any other form of exercise Frequent need to urinate, strong urgency or feeling of incomplete ability to empty your bladder Any leaking of urine, unrelated to movement or activity. Pain with intercourse or gynecological exam Pregnant and experiencing back pain, pubic symphysis pain, hip pain, or round ligament pain History of childbirth and have diastasis recti (when your belly sticks out because the space between your left and right belly muscles has widened) or problems with a c-section scar Pelvic pressure or prolapse What To Expect During your first consultation with Kristyn she will ask a variety of questions regarding your symptoms, family history, and health history. Then she will perform a physical exam of your posture, lower back and SIJ movement, abdominal muscle function, and hip muscle flexibility. An internal assessment of the pelvic floor may be needed to assess the following: A treatment plan typically consists of 1-2 visits per week over a span of 8-12 weeks. Many patients reach their goals within just 4-8 in-person visits. During your sessions there will be a strong emphasis on education and adherence to a home exercise program. Those who perform their at home exercises as instructed usually see greater results in a shorter length of time. All of these conditions are common, but they are not normal, and can be treated with physical therapy by a women's health physical therapist. No matter your age or history, it is NOT normal to leak, have pain or feel pressure "down there". Get help! Talk to your doctor about a referral to a pelvic floor physical therapist or call the Therapy & Sports Rehab Center at 618-826-4588 for more information.

On May 7, 2024, Memorial Hospital of Chester held a DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses recognition ceremony. The DAISY Foundation was established in 1999 by the family of Patrick Barnes. Patrick died at 33 from complications of the autoimmune disease ITP. During his hospitalization, the family was very impressed by the clinical care of the nurses who care for Pat. So much so that they created a foundation to thank nurses that have grown to be international. This is their way of saying thank you to nurses for the extraordinary care they provide patients and families every day. DAISY is an acronym standing for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. Nominees, for the second half of 2024, were presented with a pin and certificate. The nominees were: Emily Colvis, LPN at the Rural Health Clinics and Memorial Hospital Wound Clinic; Tamara Despain, Medical Surgical Unit RN; Maribeth Golding, RN House Supervisor at Memorial Hospital; Greg Griffith, Medical Surgical Unit LPN; Grace Knop, Medical Surgical Unit RN; and Angie Schoenbeck, RN House Supervisor at Memorial Hospital. Memorial Hospital’s Daisy Award Honoree for the first half of 2024 is Emily Colvis. Emily received four nominations from her co-workers, supervisor, and a patient. All four submissions commended her for going above and beyond, putting her patients first, and providing compassionate care while remaining calm and focused. Emily has worked at Memorial for 2 years. Upon receiving the award she expressed her gratitude, "Receiving this award further inspires me to continue my passion as a nurse. I am reminded that the smallest acts of kindness and caring have the biggest impact and taking the extra moment during a busy day with patients makes a difference. This recognition will forever leave an impression on me throughout my career. I will do my best to continue to try and make differences." She stated that she enjoys working with some of the best nurses, doctors, and admission receptionists. "I feel like most of the people I work with are family and that we do anything we can to be present and there when we need each other. I'm truly grateful to work for this establishment." During the ceremony, Susan Diddlebock, Chief Nursing Officer at Memorial, expressed her gratitude to staff following the reading of nominations. “Thank you to our nurses and staff for your commitment to healing here at Memorial Hospital. We hope that you will wear your DAISY pins proudly.” Anyone can nominate a nurse for a DAISY Award. Nominations can be done at any time by paper or electronically at www.mhchester.com/DAISY-nominations. DAISY Award Recipient Emily Colvis - "Emily goes above and beyond for her patients. She spends extra time with them to make sure they are comfortable and understand what is going on. She goes the extra mile to make sure her patients have what they want and need. Emily can make a not so happy patient smile and laugh when no one else can." "Emily is an outstanding nurse. She goes above and beyond for patients. She has gone out of her way to get things that patients have needed at Walmart or Amazon. She even delivered compression socks to a patient’s house that has a hard time getting around. Emily loves her patients and is always one to step in when someone needs anything." "One week prior to my visit at Chester Clinic, I got burned very badly on my stomach and legs. I saw Dr. Kirkpatrick for my burns and he referred me to the Wound Center where I met Emily. Emily was in charge of changing my dressing. Emily was very patient, professional, and a breath of fresh air. Emily made me feel at ease and comfortable. Emily was very gentle and cared about the fact that I was in a lot of pain. She explained step by step what she was doing and what I needed to do. She made sure I had everything I needed for my dressing changes at home. She was a breath of fresh air and I am glad she was the one that took care of me. I don’t know how much she gets paid but it’s clearly not enough. She was wonderful and very professional. I am very pleased. Kudos to Dr. Kirkpatrick for having such a wonderful nurse on his staff." "Emily received a very distraught call from an elderly patient with concerns of her own safety in her home. Emily stayed very calm while notifying another nurse to call and have an officer go to the patient’s home for a wellness check. Emily was very patient and kept the patient calm, even though the patient’s husband was yelling and making threats in the background. Emily was on the phone for 40 minutes until there was an officer with patient and she was sure the patient was safe." DAISY Award Nominations Tamara Despain - "It is hard to just pick a few nurses that deserve to be nominated, so many of the staff were great. RN Tamara is one of those. During my 2 weeks of staying with my aunt at the hospital, Tamara was wonderful with my aunt. She took time and found things to make my aunt comfortable when she was unable to tell us what was hurting. Tamara gently and genuinely tried to make my aunt's few remaining days have quality and be comfortable. Tamara offered comfort and kind words to us and made a horrible situation less painful for our family. Tamara not only provided excellent care but was seen teaching less experienced nurses with patience and grace. Her smile and sweet interactions with my aunt allowed me the time to process the hard decisions I had to make. I could tell Tamara had a beautiful soul and an abundance of caring for others. Her kind words, knowledge, and encouragement made all the difference to me and my loved one. In a world of so much despair, a spark of humility and kindness makes an impossible situation a little better. Tamara is the role model other nurses should strive to be." Maribeth Golding - "I would like to nominate Maribeth Golding for the Daisy Award. I have never heard this awesome nurse tell another staff member no or “I do not have time” when asked if she could help with something. Most of the time, we do not have to ask at all, she is always 3 steps ahead, jumping up immediately if a call light goes off. She is the definition of a nurse and a leader in my eyes. When she is supervisor, her strong confident character, incredible work ethic, impressive skill set, and positive attitude is so reassuring to staff because they know they will have a smooth shift, even if at times it can get very busy. She will not let anyone sink, or a patient be unsafe. She has all the above attributes, but in addition she is also very compassionate to patients and families. I have witnessed her perform CPR to the extent of exhaustion, console the family when we were unable to save him/her, and then tearfully go right back to doing what she does best…..setting the example to all nurses watching her what a true rock star really is." Greg Griffith - "During the 2 weeks I stayed with my aunt when she was hospitalized, I encountered many great staff members. I would like to share my observations and interactions I had with Greg. My aunt was especially hard of hearing and he would make the extra effort to explain things to her and listen to what she had to say. Greg was so friendly and caring. No matter how busy things got, he never allowed anyone to feel unheard or too hurried to comfort my aunt. Even minor requests for more ice, Tylenol, a warm blanket, another pillow or a recliner chair was done right away. His exchanges with my aunt were comforting. She responded positively and I know she looked forward to the nights he worked. He would come in to take vitals during the night and unlike some nurses, he wouldn’t turn the lights on and be loud. He used his pen light and tried not to disturb her or myself while sleeping. Greg’s interactions were spot on with her and us. It truly made things bearable. He worked great with the CNA Brian, they worked together like a well-oiled machine. They were attentive to my aunt but also to my family staying at the hospital. My aunt loved being taken care of by them and it showed how much they love taking care of patients." Grace Knop - "Thanks so much for being a 'super nurse' when I was recently seen in the ER. You were very kind and caring to me. God bless you." Angie Schoenbeck - "When my family member was hospitalized and I had learned of how she had been neglected at her own home, I struggled with many emotions. I was heartbroken for her. I was angry. I felt guilty that I had not protected her and overall sadness as I came to the realization I would need to do what was best for her and that was to tell her goodbye, that she is loved beyond measure, and let her go to a place where pain is never felt again. RN Angie was so kind. She gave us words of encouragement, support, sound information and outpouring of love. Angie's love for patients comes out so effortlessly. It is evident she goes above and beyond and this work is not just a paycheck for her. Often it is not just the patients that need healing, but the family of the patients’ needs too. Even if it is just a smile, kind words, or asking if anything is needed, Angie exemplifies what a healthcare professional should be."

Brett Bollmann, CEO at Memorial Hospital named Emily Colvis Employee of the Quarter for the First Quarter 2024 on April 25, 2024. Emily Colvis, LPN at the Rural Health Clinics, has worked at Memorial Hospital since August of 2022. When asked what she likes most about working at Memorial, she replied, “What I love most about working for Memorial Hospital is the amazing close-knit family that has been curated here. After leaving MH for several years and coming back it was like arriving back at home. I have always known that nursing was a passion for me, but MH has made my passion not feel like a job but more so an opportunity to give back to the community.” Her co-workers who nominated her wrote, “This employee goes above and beyond for our patients. She is always willing to step in and help with whatever job it may be to get it taken care of. She is always a team player and never complains! She is great at explaining things to patients in a way that they can understand. Very compassionate and caring!" "She is always willing and asking all departments at the clinic if they need help with anything, but most important Emily’s personality brings a ray of light to the clinic for not only her co-workers but also her patients. This employee makes patients and employees laugh with her spunky attitude and she always knows how to make them feel comfortable." "She has been seen putting her clinical nursing skills to work even outside of the hospital at sporting events when players may be injured. She is a true asset to Memorial Hospital!” Colvis resides in Ellis Grove, IL with her daughter. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her daughter and watching her journey into her nursing career while building memories with rodeos, concerts, ballgames, and hockey. Each quarter employees are encouraged to submit “star cards” for their co-workers who go above and beyond in their patient care or teamwork. Four random cards were drawn at the award presentation for Bernie Ernst, Environmental Services Floor Technician; Heather Wingerter, RHC Medical Assistant; Molly Ebers, RHC LPN; and Jennifer Donjon, Lead Lab RHC Phlebotomist.

Memorial Hospital’s Cardiac Pulmonary Rehab Center will be opening May 1, 2024 and is currently enrolling patients. Rehabilitation programs at the center will provide comprehensive care to patients with heart and lung conditions. Through the program, individuals are given a structured program that includes education, counseling, and exercise to strengthen their lungs and heart. Participants in the program have access to various tools and a full support system to help them recover. Memorial Hospital completes a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) every five years through the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAN). Through this community evaluation, it aids Memorial in identifying healthcare needs, disparities, and health trends in our rural service area. In our region there are over 500 people who are being treated for pulmonary or cardiac diagnoses that could benefit from rehab services. 276 with some cardiovascular disease and 271 with some form of pulmonary disease. "Each year these numbers continue to grow," explains Susan Diddlebock, Chief Nursing Officer at Memorial. "These patients are at higher risk for ER visits, admissions to the hospital, and readmissions to the hospital." By providing cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services at Memorial Hospital, this program will allow patients to receive the care they need where they are. They will no longer have to make frequent trips over longer distances to access quality care. By participating in Memorial's new rehab program, they can work on meeting their wellness goals with a skilled team of professionals just a few minutes from home. A ribbon cutting and staff open house was held for the new rehabilitation center on April 17. The newly renovated department is on the lower level of the main hospital. The state-of-the-art facility features top-of-the-line exercise and weight training equipment with space for group sessions. Under the supervision of Dr. John Groll, Cardiologist Specialist at Memorial, each patron has a complete team of professionals - trained registered nursing staff, a dietitian nutritionist, exercise physiologist, respiratory therapist, pharmacist, and social worker - supervising them through the program and helping them to reach their recovery goals. The professional rehab staff monitor all exercise sessions to ensure safety and progress. Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services are usually covered by Medicare and most insurance plans for heart and lung conditions. A physician's prescription is required to enroll in the rehab program. The staff work with the patient and their physician to determine the most appropriate plan for their individual needs. To learn more, contact the Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab Center at 618-826-4581 ext. 1151 or visit the website at www.mhchester.com/cprehab.

At Memorial Hospital our priority is our patients, and our mission is their safety. Every one of our employees dedicates themselves to ensuring the best safety practices possible to reduce harm and improve patient outcomes. Memorial recognized Patient Safety Awareness Week, March 10-16, with departments sharing information on the safety practices and improvements in their areas and by recognizing patient safety advocates throughout the organization who were nominated by their co-workers. The diagnostic imaging department utilizes low dose CT screening using the ALARA Principle The low dose principle, also known as the ALARA principle, is the rule of thumb in medicine, specifically radiology.  What is the ALARA principle? ALARA means the dose should be kept “As Low As Reasonably Achievable”.  Thanks to ever-improving technology and knowledge, it is possible to produce high quality images with a lower dose of radiation, and likewise improved patient safety. Below are a few of the developments helping support the ALARA principle: Hardware:  Improved X-ray tubes and detectors, using filters to pre-harden the X-ray beam. Software:  Software solutions that increasingly automate parameters such as tube current, exposure time, or focal spot size, as well as iterative reconstruction of image data. Positioning:  Dose reduction by means of optimum patient positioning and proper staff training. An example of the ALARA principle applied at Memorial Hospital is the low dose Computed Tomography (CT) scan, which is the recommended imaging test for lung cancer screening. Staff participate in emergency preparedness exercises to plan for improvements Memorial Hospital’s Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Therapy and Sports Rehab Center (TSRC) participated in a Workplace Violence tabletop exercise with the Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA) on November 8, 2023. During the live interactive simulation, these two departments navigated an evolving workplace violence scenario that resulted in a compromised healthcare facility and a mass casualty incident. In addition to Memorial Hospital, an impressive 109 hospitals, 27 health systems and 1,500 individuals participated in the exercise, which means healthcare facilities across Illinois are now stronger and better prepared for this type of event. As a result of the exercise, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Georgia Stipe, and others who participated, identified the need for a first aid bag at the TSRC building, and patient transport backboards at both RHCs and TSRC. These will be used in the event of emergency evacuation and will help improve safe patient transport as well as staff and responder safety. The backboards were received by Memorial Hospital through a partnership and long-standing relationship with the Illinois EMS Region 4 Southwestern Illinois HOPE Coalition. RHC and TSRC staff will be trained in safe use of the backboards by Ryan Schaal, PT, and TSRC staff will be trained to use the First Aid supplies by ER Nurse Manager Kim Ruebke, RN. Pharmacy incorporates electronic pill counter to improve patient safety With the Pharmacy’s new Eyecon Automatic Pill Counter, they can fill prescriptions with an advanced level of safety and accuracy. Eyecon is the first vision-based validation and pill counting system that also saves a photo of every transaction. If a count is questioned, the photo can be reviewed. Every pill is numbered, and all the prescription data is included on the photo in the patient’s record. The Eyecon recognizes not only the number of pills being dispensed, but the type of pill or medication. This advanced resource is an added safety feature to those already in place at the Pharmacy. Outpatient lab renovations improve patient access and safety In the upcoming weeks a new outpatient lab draw station will be opening on the main floor of the hospital. The new location is just a few feet from the main registration area, making it easily accessible for patients and closer for the critical response team if assistance is needed. During Patient Safety Awareness Week, employees nominated coworkers in recognition of their outstanding efforts as safety advocates at Memorial Hospital. Those nominated were Carrie Jo Dierks, Rebecca Hahn, Rhonda Mott, Ryan Petrowske and Denise Wilson. Here is what their coworkers had to say about them: Carrie Jo Dierks, Nursing Assistant – Infusion and Chemotherapy Department “Carrie Jo always shows concern for our patients receiving treatment, by checking on them frequently and ensuring they get to and from their vehicle safely. This was especially appreciated during the construction when the direct route to infusion was not available.” Rebecca Hahn, LPN - Specialty Clinic “I would like to nominate Becky. She will stop what she is doing and go get a patient from their car and take them to their appointment or take a patient to their car to make sure they don’t fall. She will stop to pick something up from the floor and make sure the pathway is clear and safe for patients and coworkers alike. She will also offer a patient who is having a hard time getting around a wheelchair to assist them, again getting them where they need to go with a smile.” Rhonda Mott, Chief Radiologic Technologist – Diagnostic Imaging “Rhonda takes on many roles in the department to ensure patient safety. As the lead mammography technologist, she spends countless hours staying on top of the FDA safety requirements outlined in the MQSA (Mammography Quality Standards Act). She oversees all aspects of mammography for quality patient care. This includes the initial patient exam but also includes sending patient follow up exam letters, performing quality assurance equipment tests, and staying on top of the latest regulatory changes to come into effect in September of this year. Due to her efforts, Memorial continues to maintain our ACR (American College of Radiology) accreditation providing the highest level of image quality and safety with equipment, medical personnel, and quality assurance. Another role she fills is SWIC (Southwestern Illinois College) clinical coordinator. She trains the next generation of x-ray technologists in radiation safety and patient positioning. By their second year, students are well prepared to work immediately after graduation. Many who have gone through the program continue to work at Memorial Hospital. With her many roles, Rhonda consistently goes above and beyond for the patients and the community.” Ryan Petrowske, Project Foreman – Plant Operations “Each day I see him working in the construction environments or outside. Ryan is always wearing protective gear – eyewear, knee protection, safety boots, and a hardhat. Ryan is a good safety example for the others and ensures the environment for the contractors working at Memorial is safe as well.” Denise Wilson, Clinical Assistant – Specialty Clinic “She not only goes above and beyond for safety but, in all aspects of her job functions. Denise offers for patients to call her any time they need assistance getting into the hospital, regardless of whether it is one of her doctor’s patients. Denise is the employee you will find in the hallway/hospital picking up debris for the safety and cleanliness of the facility.” We take this time to share our gratitude to all employees and departments who work together to make patient safety a priority. Their dedication reflects Memorial Hospital’s longstanding commitment to professional excellence in providing safe, quality healthcare, compassion and service to patients, the community and each other.

Memorial Hospital in Chester, IL was the recipient of an Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN) 2023-2024 EMS Education Mini Awards grant. Through the grant, Memorial is providing bleed control training and kits to all schools in the Chester and Steeleville school districts. Bleed control training at the schools provides staff with hands-on education on what they can do in an emergency, while they wait for help to arrive. Certified, Stop the Bleed trainer and Memorial’s ER Nurse Manager, Kim Ruebke is lead instructor for the training events. With the assistance of Deb Mevert, OR Nurse Manager, and Mariah Bargman, Community Relations Coordinator and BLS Instructor, the goal is to have all schools trained by the start of the 2024-2025 school year. The team conducted their first training event for the Chester Unit School District 139 staff for the public High School and Elementary School on March 22. Additional Memorial employees from the surgical and nursing departments assisted with the hands-on training for the large group. Through grant funding, training manikins to simulate real-life scenarios were purchased and enough supplies to create 200 kits for the schools. Upon completion of the training, schools are provided with multiple bleed control kits which contain 2 tourniquets, gauze, tape, and supplies. This project helps create first responders in each school to help in a trauma event and gives them the skills to intervene until help arrives. During the training, staff learn how to properly pack wounds, apply tourniquets, and how to use alternative materials to make tourniquets. This type of training can be used for any type of injury which could cause the loss of blood, from punctures to large gashes. Memorial Hospital works with the schools in Chester and Steeleville to provide CPR training and recertification annually, this additional bleed control training adds another layer of life support response to their repertoire. “As partners in building a healthier community, we work with schools to provide them with resources they need to ensure a safe and secure environment for their children,” says Bargman. “We are grateful for this grant and to be able to provide the schools with these lifesaving tools and training. We hope they never need them, but through training and exercise it helps ensure they are prepared for an emergency.”

On Friday, March 22, Memorial Hospital of Chester hosted their 3rd Annual Community Fun Run/Walk at the Chester Cohen Complex. 115 individuals participated in the event, and 6 businesses joined in with informational tables and free goodies. “It was such a wonderful turnout, and we had a great time!,” exclaimed Mariah Bargman, Marketing and Community Relations Coordinator at Memorial. “This year’s numbers are the largest we have seen. Last year we hosted the event in May, and it was almost too warm, we were blessed with good weather for our March date this year and were very happy with the turnout.” Participants at the event started out with a warm-up led by Memorial Hospital’s Therapy & Sports Rehab Center (TSRC) Director and Physical Therapist, Ryan Schaal and TSRC Supervisor, Bailey Misuraca. Participants then walked, ran, or wheeled around the paved path and enjoyed the company of friends and family while getting active. During their stroll they were able to visit tables and learn about other health and wellness services and pick up some goodies. After a few laps, they had the opportunity to visit Juicy J’s Concession stand, which served up refreshments. This annual event encourages the community to get outside and move to maintain or improve their health and wellness. Participating businesses included: Buena Vista National Bank, U of I Extension, Randolph County YMCA, Illinois CATCH Onto Health Consortium, the Randolph County Health Department, and Dieterich Bank of Chester. The fun run/walk was also organized as a kick-off event for the Randolph County Health Department's, Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Committee's, "Get Movin' Randolph County" campaign that will take place throughout April. This health and wellness campaign encourages individuals and families to improve their health. Worksheets are provided for participants to track their movement and once completed, they can turn in their sheet for a free t-shirt at the wrap-up event in Red Bud in May. Learn more at getmovinrandolphcounty.org. “The goal of the event is for people to get active and take initiative to improve their health and wellness,” says Bargman. “Memorial Hospital works with health organizations throughout our area to help promote healthy living. We were happy to partner with the Health Department for a kick-off event.” Memorial Hospital plans to host this event again next spring.

Memorial Hospital Welcomes Dr. Matthew Gaeta, specializing in gastroenterology, to our Specialty Clinic Team. Dr. Matthew Gaeta specializes in Gastroenterology. He completed undergraduate studies at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri earning a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences. He received his medical doctorate at University of Missouri School of Medicine in Columbia, Missouri. Dr. Gaeta completed an Internal Medicine residency at University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado. He then returned to Columbia, Missouri where he completed a Categorical Internal Medicine residency followed by a Fellowship in Gastroenterology. He is board certified in Gastroenterology. Dr. Gaeta joins Memorial Hospital’s team of specialty providers offering Gastroenterology services beginning January of 2022. Outpatient clinics will be available every other week along with same day surgery procedures. To learn more about our specialists visit www.mhchester.com or call Memorial Hospital Specialty Clinic at (618) 826-4581 ext. 1366

Dr. John Groll has been providing cardiology services at Memorial Hospital since 1998. He holds weekly outpatient cardiology clinics every Wednesday in Memorial Hospital’s Specialty Clinic. Recently, Dr. Groll added telemedicine as an option for his patients. This alternative to in-person visits increases access to Dr. Groll's cardiology services on days when he is not on site at Chester. Through an agreement with BJC Health System, Memorial Hospital has available a state of the art “robot” specially designed for telemedicine visits. The Teladoc Health robot is a mobile cart featuring a telehealth platform operating system, high resolution pan/tilt/zoom video camera, enhanced audio, and a digital stethoscope for evaluating heart sounds. The cart is controlled by Dr. Groll using software at his office in St. Louis, while the patient and clinic staff are in the exam room here in Chester. The telehealth platform allows the patient to experience a convenient visit with the provider as if they were both in the exam room together in-person. Dr. Groll held his first telemedicine clinic in May this year. He is now offering telemedicine appointments monthly for patient follow up visits and will continue his on site clinics as well. The use of this technology supports Memorial Hospital’s goal of offering the community convenient access to specialty services both near and far. Memorial Hospital extends our appreciation to Dr. Groll for taking advantage of the telehealth technology available at Memorial Hospital. ​Dr. Groll holds outpatient clinics at Memorial Hospital on Wednesdays. Physician referrals are required. To learn more about our specialists call Memorial Hospital Specialty Clinic at (618) 826-4581 ext. 1366. Learn more about Dr. Groll and the services he provides here.

Memorial Hospital is proud to welcome Michelle Voudrie, DNP, FNP-BC to the Specialty Clinic. Michelle works with Dr. Justin Floyd and the Oncology/Hematology team at Cancer Care Specialists of Illinois. Beginning Thursday, September 28th, 2023, Michelle will begin seeing patients in Memorial Hospital’s Specialty Clinic and Infusion Center. Thereafter, she will be here weekly, on Wednesdays starting October 11th. Michelle’s education includes a Doctor of Nursing Practice (2020) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (2014) from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville, IL. She is board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner and is a member of the Oncology Nursing Society. We are excited to have Michelle join our team of Specialty Clinic providers.

Memorial Hospital Welcomes Dr. Tong Zhu, M.D. PhD. specializing in pain medicine to Specialty Clinic team. Dr. Tong Zhu specializes in pain medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation. He received his medical degree from Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. He completed his internship for General Surgery at Allegheny General Hospital / West Pennsylvania Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA. He completed his residency for physical medicine and rehabilitation and fellowship for pain medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas , TX. Dr. Zhu is board certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and American Board of Pain Medicine. He will begin seeing patients in Memorial Hospital's Specialty Clinic in July 2021. Dr. Zhu evaluates and treats conditions related to: Neck and Back Pain, Nerve-Related Pain, Joint and Muscle Pain, and performs in-office injections. CONDITIONS EVALUATES: Neck and Back Pain Degenerative disc disease Herniated disc Facet joint syndrome Radiculopathy /Sciatica Spinal stenosis Failed back syndrome Nerve-Related Pain: Complex regional pain syndrome: Peripheral neuropathy Postherpetic neuralgia Joint And Muscle Pain: Joint pain: Arthritis in major joints such as the hip, knee and shoulder Vertebral compression fractures Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain Pelvic pain Myofascial pain In Office Injections: Trigger point injection Knee/shoulder injection Bursa injection He holds outpatient clinics at Memorial Hospital on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month. Physician referrals are required.

The Memorial Hospital Wound Center opens February 25, 2020. Dr. Margaret De Guzman, general surgeon, is now accepting wound care appointments. The Wound Center is located in Memorial Hospital Specialty Clinic, with hours held weekly on Tuesdays. The Wound Center is staffed by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals with advanced training in wound care. Our approach to wound care is comprehensive, coordinating traditional and advanced therapies that aid and accelerate the healing process. For patients, that means faster healing times, longer-lasting results, decreased amputation rates and increased mobility. Wound conditions treated include but not limited to: diabetic foot ulcers, venous ulcers, pressure ulcers, surgical wounds, traumatic wounds, arterial ulcers, radiation wounds, compromised skin grafts and flaps, and crush injuries. For more information, call 618-826-4583. Learn more about Memorial Hospital Wound Center here.