Gov. JB Pritzker signed a law Dec. 12 that will allow terminally ill adults in Illinois to take life-ending medication prescribed by physicians. The controversial bill overcame strong opposition from religious groups and some disability rights advocates who feared it could endanger Illinoisians with disabilities. Critics call the practice “assisted suicide,” while those who support the law […]
Medical News
HSHS names system vice president, marketing and communications
Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS), a Catholic health ministry with operations in Illinois and Wisconsin, has named Charmaine Weis system vice president, marketing and communications. Weis joined HSHS in February 2024 as the system director of marketing and brand experience and has been serving as interim senior vice president and chief marketing and communications officer […]
Mission Outreach ships supplies to Jamaica
Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach, a medical supply and equipment recovery organization in Springfield, is supporting efforts to provide medical care to Jamaicans in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. A 40’ shipping container of requested medical supplies and beds left the Mission Outreach warehouse on Nov. 6 to be distributed by relief workers from Foodfor the […]
Springfield community mental health center to open
Chicago-based nonprofit Envision Unlimited will be hosting a grand opening for its Springfield community mental health center, at 1306 S. Sixth St., Oct. 30. Services offered are geared toward people with mental health challenges and disabilities. The center will accept both Medicaid and Blue Cross patients. Envision Unlimited already owns and operates the Hope Springs […]
Losing health care coverage
Dr. Janet Albers is sad that thousands of Springfield-area patients could lose Medicaid coverage and delay care because of Republican President Donald Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill.” Albers, a family physician, told Illinois Times that she saw many previously uninsured patients get screened for cancer and chronic health conditions, then obtain lifesaving treatment, after the […]
Dr. Jerry Kruse announces retirement from SIU School of Medicine
Dr. Jerry Kruse, dean and provost of Springfield-based Southern Illinois University School of Medicine for the past nine years, plans to retire in summer 2026. Kruse, 72, a family physician and member of the medical school’s faculty for more than 40 years, announced his retirement to the SIU Board of Trustees at its meeting Sept. […]
Dr. Jerry Kruse announces retirement from SIU School of Medicine
Dr. Jerry Kruse, dean and provost of Springfield-based Southern Illinois University School of Medicine for the past nine years, plans to retire in summer 2026. Kruse, 72, a family physician and member of the medical school’s faculty for more than 40 years, announced his retirement to the SIU Board of Trustees at its meeting Sept. […]
Memorial Health names senior vice president
Dr. Ted Clark has been named Memorial Health’s senior vice president and chief clinical officer, effective Aug. 4. In his new role, Clark will oversee Memorial Medical Group, Memorial Behavioral Health and the health system’s quality and safety teams and its home health services. Clark has served as Decatur Memorial Hospital’s chief medical officer since […]
Illinois hospitals fear massive cuts under Trump domestic policy law
Hospital officials in Illinois say they will have to make some difficult decisions in the next few years that could involve laying off staff, cutting back services and even closing some facilities entirely. That’s the expected result of federal funding cuts built into the recently passed domestic policy bill that President Donald Trump signed into […]
Illinois hospitals fear massive cuts under Trump domestic policy law
Hospital officials in Illinois say they will have to make some difficult decisions in the next few years that could involve laying off staff, cutting back services and even closing some facilities entirely. That’s the expected result of federal funding cuts built into the recently passed domestic policy bill that President Donald Trump signed into […]
Memorial Health names chief information officer
Suresh Krishnan will join Memorial Health as chief information officer effective July 28. Krishnan most recently served as chief technology officer at Cone Health in Greensboro, North Carolina, and is very familiar with Illinois, having spent more than 30 years with health care organizations in the Chicago area earlier in his career. He graduated with […]
Local high school students step into world of health care
Ever wanted to observe a gastric bypass surgery, meet babies in the NICU or learn CPR with hands-on demonstrations? Area students got a glimpse into a career at HSHS St. John’s Hospital by participating in a recent High School Healthcare Bootcamp. “It’s one thing to read about health care in a textbook or to see […]

