News From SIH

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.

Illinoisans will be required to wear face masks or other face coverings starting May 1 in public places where they cannot maintain social distancing. Southern Illinois doctors hope everyone takes Illinois Gov. J.B Pritzker's new mask requirement seriously. Dr. Matt Winkleman with SIH said there's no need for people to wait until May 1 to start wearing masks. They should start today.

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.

SIH is requires everyone - employees, patients and visitors - to wear masks while in one of its hospitals or clinics. The new policy comes as Governor Pritzker announces a modified stay at home order that will require people wear a face mask or covering when in public indoor spaces. Francis Murphy, General Manager of the Neighborhood Co-Op Grocery store in Carbondale, says he's seen in increase in customers wearing masks.

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.

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."

COVID-19 is stopping some patients who need to seek immediate medical help from doing so. SIH is one of many institutions regionally and nationwide that have seen a 50 percent drop in patient visits for conditions like stroke and heart attacks.

Southern Illinois University is utilizing 3D printing technology to create plastic face shields for Southern Illinois Healthcare. Lingguo Bu, associate professor of curriculum and instruction, with support from the SIU STEM Education Research Center, has already delivered about 150 shields to SIH, and on Monday he delivered 20 more.

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.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Thursday extended Illinois' stay-at-home order through May 30, with some modifications. One of those modifications includes requiring face coverings for everyone in indoor public places and in places where people can't maintain a 6-foot distance from others.