Riverside Medical Center

Description

Established in 1964 Riverside HealthCare serves the south suburban counties of Chicago as a notforprofit medical facility Riverside currently has two medical campuses in Kankakee and Bourbonnais

Riverside is nationally recognized for its specialty programs in heart care obstetrics trauma oncology rehabilitation geriatrics occupational health treatment of alcohol and chemical dependency and psychiatric services For its heart and oncology programs Riverside partners with RUSH University Medical Center in Chicago

Located on the Kankakee Campus is Riverside Medical Center a 336bed hospital that provides a full scope of inpatient and outpatient care The Emergency Department is designated as a Level II Trauma Center and a Resource Hospital by the Illinois Department of Public HealthKankakee is also home to Riversides senior living communityfeaturing active independent living assisted living 24hour skilled nursing care and Alzheimers care

Riverside Medical Centers Mission and Values
Mission and Values
Our Mission
Life is a remarkable journey

Health impacts every step how we connect with others how we express our potential how we pursue our dreams

At Riverside our mission is to provide healthcare experiences that are just as remarkable

We do this for each and every person regardless of their personal or economic circumstances

We offer our highest thinking our kindest touch and our strongest commitment to excellence

Our Core Values
Integrity We respect human dignity and consistently promote fairness and
honesty

Excellence We strive for clinical operational and service excellence by
fostering professional development accountability teamwork and commitment
to high value

Partnership We work in cooperation with other care providers guided by
open communication trust and shared decisionmaking

Stewardship We advocate prudence in the use of our financial and human
resources for the advantage of the communities we serve

History

History of Riverside HealthCare and Riverside Medical Center
In many ways the world is very different today than in 1964 when Riverside Hospital opened in response to a need for another facility within a growing community Technology has advanced by light years laws regulating healthcare have changed dramatically and todays updated facility bears little resemblance to the original structure

What has endured throughout Riversides 40 years is our commitment to delivering excellent service to promote health and lead the way in providing this community with a superior comprehensive healthcare system that operates in a caring highlyefficient and competitive manner Now and in the future Riverside HealthCare maintains excellence through the efforts of a talented team of dedicated professionals and support staff whose actions exemplify excellence You and your family can count on us to uphold our mission of providing quality caring service that improves the health status of the communities that we serve

Neighbors Caring for Neighbors
The history of Riverside HealthCare drapes across the years like a tapestry rich with the vibrant colors and inescapable warmth of the many people who have contributed to its success over 40 years

The threads of the tapestry have been woven in by individuals too numerous to name in these few pages It starts with the original founders and contributors neighbors caring enough about their neighbors to act on their dreams and convictions The tapestry embraces every physician nurse technician support staff member and volunteer who has helped a patient directly or indirectly over the years It also encircles all who have given the cloth its strength by serving on the Hospital Board of Directors Riverside Medical Center Foundation and Riverside Auxiliary over the years

What binds the tapestry together is a mission of delivering healthcare services on a regional basis that are focused on improving the health status of the communities that we serve in a meaningful and caring manner Riverside Medical Center stands today as an organization much more complex than the one opened in 1964 yet steadfast in its commitment to excellence

The Tapestry Begins
The first fibers of tapestry came together in 1956 At that time Dwight D Eisenhower was President of the US the first openheart surgery had been successfully performed in Philadelphia only a few years earlier and in the wake of a polio epidemic a new vaccine was being administered to youngsters across the nation

Close to home the only area hospital was overcrowded and inadequate to serve the growing need of the region for quality healthcare It was evident that the rapidly growing population in Kankakee and its surrounding communities needed another hospital Fortunately a group of determined individuals persevered in their concerns

In December 1958 a Chamber of Commerce subcommittee chaired by James G Schneider recommended that a private nonprofit foundation known as the Stewards Foundation be invited to build a 150bed hospital in Kankakee After unfilled promises and delays the committee severed ties with the Stewards Foundation to build a 136bed hospital funded by the community with aid from federal grants The Hospital Committee continued under the leadership of James Schneider and it purchased seven acres of scenic land at Riversides present site from Burrell and Len Small who donated an additional three acres A new campaign was brought to the community 3 which embraced it with continued pledges A HillBurton grant of 666000 was a major gift

After appealing to the community to submit name suggestions for the new facility Kankakee County Hospital became Riverside Hospital in 1961 Construction began in May 1962 and Robert GMiller was named Chief Executive Officer in January 1963

Even before Riverside Hospital opened its doors it was accepted into the Illinois Hospital Association and American Hospital Association And in 1961 before the groundbreaking 20 people attended the first organizational meeting of the Hospital Auxiliary Mrs Edgar Shipley served as first Auxiliary President and the organization boasted 575 auxilians by the time the hospital opened

The 136bed Riverside Hospital was dedicated January 12 1964 An open house on January 11 drew 3000 visitors despite a Chicagostyle blizzard The doors officially opened on January 22 with 125 employees and 69 physicians Within a month there were 186 fulltime employees and 40 working parttime

Riverside Expands Quickly
The United States ventured into outer space during the tenure of John F Kennedy and Riverside had plans for expansion underway before its first anniversary A specific plan facilitated organized growth enabling patient services to go upward while ancillary services expanded outward

In May 1965 Riverside purchased another 88 acres from the Small Family and by years end construction began on a threestory addition that not only expanded the Labor and Delivery area but also tripled the laundry capacity and doubled the Xray department With a newer larger front entrance and lobby the hospital also added 74 beds for a total of 210

While growing its physical size Riverside also led the way in excellence for patient care In 1966 the hospital received its first accreditation from the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Hospitals since renamed the Joint Commission a mark of excellence it has always maintained A new eightbed Intensive Care Unit opened with electronic patient monitoring and the Board approved a recommendation to develop a 30bed Psychiatric Unit A new Pediatric Unit designed exclusively for children opened in 1968

During the late 1960s Riverside Hospital collaborated with Olivet Nazarene University to provide the clinical training for a fouryear nursing degree program and with Kankakee Community College to establish a twoyear Associate Degree Nursing Program Riverside Foundation was established in 1967 with Vernon Butz as President to generate philanthropic support to enhance the availability and quality of the healthcare services provided by the hospital Since then the Foundation has been supported by generous and thoughtful individuals companies and organizations that have given annual gifts bequests insurance real estate stocks and cash donations

The Tapestry Evolves
While students wearing bellbottoms and love beads promoted revolution in the 1970s the emphasis at Riverside was evolution developing facilities and services

In 1971William Brandenburg donated 65 acres of farmland on the south side of the river adjacent to Kankakee Airport designated for the Riverside Foundation

In 1970 Riverside started construction of a 1 million addition the first phase of a master plan It was completed in 1971 with the opening of a new surgery suite and central sterile supply area and relocation of the Emergency Room A year later phase II of the plan brought a new coronary care unit to a now completed fifth floor as well as more room for diagnostic and ancillary services new clinical lab radiology suite medical records medical library physical therapy unit and an enlarged maintenance and engineering plant

Construction didnt stop there In 1974 a continuing education area was completed on the lower level and the OB deliverymaternity wing was remodeled And in 1976 a new development plan called for building a new mental health unit day surgery facilities and a new intensive care unit Remodeling began on respiratory care dietary materials management and cardiac testing areas The intensive care unit opened in 1978 along with a new outpatient clinic

Aerial view of hospital during expansion 1978During this time frame Riverside received approval for a 50bed Mental Health Unit and began its Psychiatric Day Hospital Program Since 1972 Riversides Behavioral Health Services has been improving and ensuring the mental health and well being of children and adults an extensive complement of care Programs include inpatient and outpatient shortterm and longterm counseling alcohol and chemical dependency treatment crisis intervention and aftercare to help prepare patients for their return into the community after hospitalization Today Behavioral Health offers programs in many locations in the communities of KankakeeWill Grundy Livingston Iroquois and Southern Cook Counties

Riverside and the Kankakee Rotary participated in the Meals on Wheels program providing 125 meals a day to area residents who needed temporary or longterm assistance to live independently The Rotary provided the containers while churches and auxilians provided volunteers to deliver the meals

On Riversides 15th anniversary in 1979 the hospital was renamed Riverside Medical Center to reflect Riversides growth from an inpatient facility to a comprehensive multipleservice health organization for the community with 315 beds and 1000 employees

The Tapestry Unfurls Even Further
As the 1980s dawned some of us stood in line to see the movie Flashdance while others mourned TVs last episode of Mash At Riverside Medical Center commitment to steady growth continued

Riverside opened its first community center Pembroke Community Health Center in Hopkins Park with a focus on patient satisfaction in 1981 Additional Community Health Centers followed soon after in Momence Today there are 15 freestanding centers making primary care physicians specialists and services including lab physical therapy and Xray readily available close to home for more area residents

The Medical Center adopted a new Mission Statement in the 1980s

Riverside Medical Center and its medical staff exist to promote health and provide the community with a superior comprehensive healthcare system that operates in a caring highly efficient and competitive manner Our healthcare system shall maintain excellence through the efforts of a talented team of dedicated professionals whose actions exemplify a Caring at its best attitude Riverside is committed to serving as a Medical Leader a center of caring

In line with its new mission Riverside invested in additional cuttingedge technology to analyze pediatric blood chemistry and toxicology Investments were also made in radiographic equipment including the full body CT scanners and the linear accelerators

Riverside also implemented its Home Health Care service quickly receiving Medicare licensure and established the Riverside Health Equipment Store to supply area residents everything they need for comfortable and safe home care Today the store is the largest service of its kind in the Region offering extensive home health products wheelchairs and lifts respiratory care items all with the kind of customer service only local owners can deliver for sale rental and service

Riversides Emergency Department was designated a Level II Trauma Center by the Illinois Department of Public Health in 1988 This designation guarantees the immediate availability of specialized surgeons anesthesiologists trauma nurse specialists and emergency medicine physicians with advanced trauma training 24 hours a day The Emergency Department also holds EDAP Emergency Department Approved for Pediatrics designation That means it has the skilled staff and ageappropriate equipment to treat children of all ages

The Riverside Senior Living Center Corporation was established in 1989 and a 10acre parcel was approved for development of an independent living center for senior adults

In 1988 Riverside set up its Sleep Laboratory Sleep studies and services previously provided only at university medical centers were now available in the Kankakee community Sleep studies identify the cause of a patients sleep disorder and help specialists determine the most effective means of treatment

This era culminated in Riversides 25th anniversary and a rededication in 1989

Riverside Weaves New Dreams
While the old Millennium was winding down Riverside took a running leap not just into a new Century but a new Millennium During the 1990s plans unfolded for new services for seniors and more advanced care for those with cancer heart disease and other problems Under the leadership of Board Chairman Connie Ashline the hospital entered the 1990s One of her first responsibilities was to facilitate the transfer from retiring longtime CEO Robert GMiller to a new CEO The search committee selected Dennis CMillirons who assumed the responsibilities of President and CEO of all Riverside affiliates on January 1 1994

Recognizing the need for a relationship with a Chicagobased healthcare delivery system Riverside began the process of evaluating its options In 1996 the affiliation with RushPresbyterianSt Lukes Medical Center now Rush University Medical Center became a reality Through strong strategic and clinical ties the RushRiverside relationship has produced lasting value for the people of the Kankakee Region

Living options for seniors opened up with the construction of 90 senior independent living apartments at Westwood Oaks 48 senior assisted living apartments at Butterfield Court and the opening of Miller Center a 120bed skilled nursing facility

Riverside purchased the former Alco Discount Store in Bradley as a satellite location to house health equipment ambulance wellness services outpatient rehabilitation and occupational health services naming it Riverside Atrium

It now serves as a medical mall with offices for physicians a singlespecialty orthopedic surgery center an occupational medicine clinic physical rehabilitation facilities and the ambulance headquarters for Riverside Ambulance

To make the benefits of health and wellness available to more area residents Riverside built a stateoftheart Health Fitness Center in 1997 with training equipment an indoor track swimming and exercise pools climbing wall and much more As a hospitalbased center the staff is especially sensitive to the needs of those who are not in the best of health The facilities are easily accessible for people with wheelchairs or walkers and there are programs geared toward those with chronic problems such as arthritis fibromyalgia heart disease or back pain The 70000 sq ft facility in Bourbonnais includes child care professional fitness consultations whirlpool massage and numerous other amenities Riverside Health Fitness Center also houses certain outpatient services for convenience including sports medicine and rehabilitative medicine

Riverside and Olivet Nazarene University formed a partnership with Olivets Athletic Department to develop a training program for Athletic Trainees supported by Olivet Nazarene University and Orthopedic Associates of Kankakee The Community Alliance comprised of Riverside Olivet Nazarene University Kankakee Community College and Provena StMarys Hospital formed to provide seed money for the development of the Family Violence Council In addition they purchased automatic external defibrillators to be placed in local and county police cars

In 1999 the RushRiverside Heart Center became a reality A defining decision regarding Riversides future was to pursue the development of openheart surgery After five years of preparation and planning by Riverside leadership the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board approved Riverside Medical Centers request to do openheart surgery in early 1999 The first procedure was performed in October 1999 and today the program continues to grow with over 2500 procedures annually in the Heart Catheterization Laboratory and over 250 openheart surgeries each year The Riverside HealthCare Foundation committed 1 million toward the expense of the program startup

Disaster Tests Emergency Responsiveness
The memory is still vivid for many in this community On March 15 1999 at a railroad crossing in Bourbonnais Amtraks City of New Orleans passenger train from Chicago collided with a truck transporting 22 tons of steel The crash derailed 11 of the trains 14 cars plus two locomotives One locomotive split leaking diesel fuel that ignited the ront three carsWithin minutes 35 ambulances and scores of police and firefighters arrived on the scene to help the trains 214 passengers and 14 crew members eleven died t the scene

Riverside activated its Disaster Plan as soon as it got word of the crashWhen the first ambulance arrived at Riversides Level II Trauma Center physicians and nurses were at the door ready with their gurneys and emergency medical supplies Riverside accepted 52 patients nine with lifethreatening injuries 18 with serious injuries and 21 nonurgent iinjuries two patients required surgery

Aerial view of Amtrak crash derailing 11 of the trains 14 cars March 1999In addition to rallying medical personnel and supplies a thorough disaster plan covers almost all allied servicesMost departments must be prepared to provide services to many people in a very short amount of time For instance Security must handle a barrage of people descending on the premises Public Relations to handle the probes of the media Pastoral Care and Behavioral Health to help victims and their families deal with tragedy Admitting and Medical Records to process many patients Pharmacy to fill both inpatient and outpatient prescriptions Radiology and Laboratory Services to help physicians quickly diagnose the extent of injuries

Most hospitals never actually have the experience of being involved in an actual disaster notes TraumaDisaster Coordinator Sherry Mayes RN Although all hospitals are required to conduct a minimum of two disaster drills per year when you are involved in a real disaster the plan that looks good on paper may not cover all of the unknown glitches that may occur Our preparedness passed the test but we also learned some things and made several changes to our Disaster PlanMayes has shared Riversides experience with many other hospitals in Illinois making presentations that help them to be better prepared

Since terrorists struck the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11 2001 the job of preparing a medical center for disaster has almost become a fulltime position according to Mayes The government has allotted each hospital in Illinois with the funds to prepare for biological and chemical attacks That has meant writing new disaster plans purchasing new equipment such as Hazardous Material suits and airsupplied respirators then educating people on the plan and training them in the use of new equipment

Of course everyone hopes the new plans will never have to be activated But residents of the Kankakee Region can rest assured that Riverside is ready with a plan for the unexpected

A New Millennium Dawns
Although the new Millennium has hardly begun advancements are evident throughout the entire health system with new facilities expanded programs added service lines and prestigious awards In addition to the many Firsts listed on pages 1516 Riverside HealthCare is meeting the changing healthcare needs of those we serve with the following upgrades since 2000

The new Riverside Pavilion makes comprehensive services more convenient and accessible than ever adding more than 600 parking spaces and a new main entrance linked to Riverside Medical Center The 115000 sq ft 6story facility is home to the Schneider Outpatient CenterWomens Health Center RushRiverside Cancer Institute and physicians offices A temperaturecontrolled pedestrian walkway provides safe crossing over Wall Street in front of the Medical Center

Renovated Family BirthSuites increased the number of labordeliveryrecovery suites to five making plenty of room for the more than 1400 babies born at Riverside each year The Suites contain an Infant Care Center so newborns can be cleaned and weighed right there and kept cozy in a warming cabinet A Special Care Nursery Level II is nearby to stabilize infants who are very sick or need surgery

June 2003 Riverside broke ground for the Betty Burch Bridgewater Center for Radiation Therapy Dedicated to the memory of Mrs Bridgewater the Center was funded in part by a gift from the Bridgewater family and is part of the RushRiverside Cancer Institute which delivers advanced cancer care and research to those impacted by cancer The Riverside HealthCare Foundation also committed 35 million to the construction of the new Cancer Center and the volunteer Auxiliary committed 250000 for a Cancer Education Center The Center is a highly advanced facility that brings the latest cancer care technology to this area

Expanded and renovated the Riverside Emergency Department a Level II Trauma Center not only added new registration and waiting areas but also added a new service to ensure timely care to those with non lifethreatening injuries or sickness

The Total Joint Resources Program created with Orthopedic Associates of Kankakee gives patients the advantage of clinical research being performed on leadingedge surgical techniques for knee and hip replacements combined with highquality coordinated care that ensures a quick and full recovery Patients come to Riverside from throughout the State of Illinois and several other states to access the excellent care provided by our program

To strengthen the spiritual side of healing Riverside created a Spiritual Healing Garden adjacent to the main waiting room on the first floor

Riverside Spiritual Healing Garden completed in 2003Riversides Senior Living Centers offer a full continuum of care that includes independent living Westwood Oaks and assisted living Butterfield Court as well as skilled and intermediate nursing care Miller CenterMost recently we opened Westwood Estates featuring beautiful twoand threebedroom ranch homes that offers independent living with all maintenance provided for a carefree lifestyle

Riverside Medical Center is nationally recognized for its specialty areas in heart care obstetrics trauma oncology rehabilitation geriatrics occupational health treatment of alcohol and chemical dependency and psychiatric services The Emergency Department is designated as a Level II Trauma Center and a Resource Hospital by the Illinois Department of Public Health

While theres no cure for diabetes patients can learn to manage the disease to live a full healthy life Riversides Diabetes SelfManagement Education Program received a Certificate of Recognition from the American Diabetes Association for meeting national standards in 2003 Certification has only been given to 23 programs in the entire State of Illinois

HealthCare continuously strives to meet the changing healthcare needs of the people who live in this Region delivering quality services the best patient satisfaction and the greatest convenience possible coupled with the latest technology that enables our patients to receive excellent and comprehensive medical care Riverside Spiritual Healing Garden completed in 2003

Riverside HealthCare Firsts
mission to deliver quality caring services that improve the health status of the communities we serve Riverside is often the First in the Kankakee Region to use advanced care that benefits patients Here are some of the most recent Firsts in procedures equipment and services

Endovascular stentgraft 2003 for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms AAAs a new
minimallyinvasive procedure that saves lives by repairing a bulge or weak
spot in the major artery that feeds blood vessels supplying the brain arms
legs and intestines

Cardiac drugeluting stents 2003 slowly release a drug over a long period
of time that prevents cleared blood vessels from closing up after
angioplasty due to scar tissue Its a medical advancement that is
revolutionizing angioplasty and cardiac care

Ambulatory Infusion Center 2002 enables those who need regular IV therapy
injections or related services to receive their treatments in a comfortable
setting where they can watch TV read or socialize

Aortic Dissection 2003 Just six weeks after actor John Ritter died from
an aortic dissection a leak in a main heart artery RushRiverside Heart
Center experts successfully repaired the dissection of Robert Gassman
sending him home a few days later to rest Gassman benefited from the proven
record of exceptional care our specialists deliver in a full spectrum of
cardiac services that includes openheart surgery

Toshiba 16slice CT Scanner 2003 the cuttingedge of scanning technology
delivers not only speed but also a resolution so improved that CT scans are
being used to find cancers previously too small or to examine small arteries
or the organs of small children

Mammotone Systemreg Second LookTM System 2003 a computeraided diagnostic
system that greatly strengthens a radiologists ability to diagnose breast
cancer in its early stages aids in ultrasound guided breast biopsy and much
more

RushRiverside Heart Center Womens Heart Health Program 2004 focuses
solely on womens heart health

Bariatric Surgery 2003 is a multidisciplinary program that provides
several types of weight loss or gastrointestinal surgery for qualified
candidates 80 to 100 pounds overweight whose obesity poses serious physical
or health problems

Affiliation with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago 2004 the number
one rehabilitative hospital in the US dramatically strengthens rehab
services for area residents and greatly expands their access to care

Facing Forward What Lies Ahead
This 40year history portrays more than a sentimental walk through time It tells an American success story an ambitious dream years of hard work and neighbors caring about neighbors have made Riverside into a stronghold of the community

In 2004 with total assets of over 330 million 2000 employees over 200 physicians on staff and facilities in three counties Riverside HealthCare is prepared to further its mission of providing quality caring services that improves the health status of the communities it serves

How will the rest of the tapestry unfold Our history creates a rich background the present and future is in our hands

Dedication
In consideration of the 40th Anniversary of Riverside HealthCare this history was prepared with the assistance of Sharon Corzine Sills She and Chief Executive Officer Robert G Miller were the first employees of the hospital This history is dedicated to their service and the service of those who have followed To heal always and to cure as often as possible this legacy of the caring organization that was created 40years ago lives on today