News From SIH

The ongoing partnership between SIU and SIH to address the shortage of nurses has advanced to a new level with the announcement that SIH is creating a scholarship program for SIU's accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

“Juneteenth is a celebration of joy and pride. Joy and pride because it’s a reminder that I descend from a people who found ways to survive during horrific circumstances.” – Kristen Matthews, SIH community health worker and health leads supervisor

For as long as I can remember, PRIDE Month has been celebrated across the U.S. in June and offers an opportunity to recognize the impact lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally and internationally.

In an ongoing effort to offer new services in Saline and nearby counties, SIH is pleased to announce the opening of SIH Urgent Care in Harrisburg on Friday, April 1 .

The new SIH Work Care location is set to open January 17, 2022. SIH Work Care, an occupational medicine leader in Southern Illinois, has announced plans to open a Harrisburg location at 901 S. Commercial Street to better meet the needs of business and industry in Saline, Gallatin, Hardin, Pope, Hamilton and White Counties. It will be the second site for SIH Work Care, which opened in 2007.

Consistent with long-standing practices requiring health care workers to be vaccinated against serious infectious diseases for the safety of patients and staff, SIH will require COVID-19 vaccinations for all employees and those who work in SIH facilities as a condition of their employment. Employees will be required to be fully vaccinated by November 8, 2021.

Out of an abundance of caution, you will notice an increased security and law enforcement presence at SIH facilities today on the heels of a potential threat lobbied against several Illinois hospitals (Wednesday, Aug. 4). Law enforcement officials believe this threat involves spoofing and appears to be a hoax. Nevertheless, SIH is taking the threat seriously in the best interest of our staff, patients and community. While we take these additional safety measures, SIH services and hospital operations will continue as normal.

SIH is pleased to announce the Illinois Health Facilities Services and Review Board today approved a certificate of exemption for an ownership change allowing Harrisburg Medical Center (HMC) to join the SIH family. Following the closing of the transaction, to be effective on August 1, 2021, the real work of improving health in the Harrisburg community will begin as part of the formal integration process with SIH.