News From SIH

Director of Emergency Services at SIH Herrin Hospital joined Will Stephens to talk about COVID-19 and Emergency Medical Care. Dr. Miksanek said that Emergency care for Heart Attack and Stroke is not occurring at typical rates. This leads SIH to believe people are putting off Emergency Medical Care due to COVID-19.

After hearing about the shortage of personal protective equipment to fight COVID-19, Bernie Hennenberger’s best friend, Darren Haney, had an idea to help local hospitals during the pandemic. They could use their 3D printers to make face shields for health care workers.

SIH continues to see dozens of mask donations daily in response to the personal protective equipment shortage. Denise Glennon's mother is a former nurse who taught her how to sow; she understands the need for masks when a loved one is sick.

A Marion man is speaking out about fear of COVID-19 preventing people from seeking emergency care after he waited three days to get help during a heart attack. On May 1, David Willard of Marion took advantage of the nice weather to power wash his house.

Dr. Sarah Altamimi, an infectious disease physician at Southern Illinois Healthcare, knows a good way you can protect yourself from COVID-19: Stop wearing vinyl or latex gloves in public. “Wearing gloves does not add any level of security or protection, and it might add harm,” Altamimi said.

Infectious disease experts say, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, you should leave your gloves at home the next time you run an errand. "We do not recommend the public wears gloves when they're outside--especially in the supermarket or anywhere else," said Doctor Sarah Altamimi with SIH. "Wearing gloves just adds a false security sense that you are not really benefiting from at all."

On Friday, Southern Illinois Healthcare unveiled new remote health care options for people living in southern Illinois. Using remote communication platfor Webex, Dr. Matthew Winkleman of Harrisburg discussed ways patients at SIH Primary Care Harrisburg may communicate with health care providers through video visits.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended universal mask wearing to help combat the spread of the coronavirus. Dr. Matthew Winkleman, a primary care physician with SIH, said mask wearing is especially critical in situations where social distancing is more difficult.

GLOVES FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY. Is wearing rubber gloves while out in public effective in protecting you from the Corona virus?

Southern Illinois Healthcare announced last week that SIH Medical Group is now conducting video visits for outpatient visits. Dr. Matt Winkleman, of SIH Primary Care in Harrisburg, explained that government restrictions on telemedicine were recently loosened, which opened different types of platforms for medical visits.