OSF Saint Anthony’s dedicated to patients through primary, specialty care

By LISA COON, OSF HealthCare
    
    ALTON – A shift in how care is provided to patients is helping OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center transform health care in the River Bend community.
    OSF Saint Anthony’s Physician Group recently introduced its Primary Care Team of Dr. Yusuf Mohyuddin and Certified Physician Assistant Elaine Rynders. The pair works together closely to anticipate the needs of primary care patients, communicate their findings with each other, and make sure no aspect of the patient’s health slips through the cracks. Nurse practitioners also may be a part of a care team.
    Dr. Mohyuddin, a family practice physician, said there is great value and benefits with the team approach.
    “The care team model allows patients to be seen in a more timely fashion to have their health-care needs addressed. The physician assistant works in close coordination with the physician to see the patient, especially for acutely ill patients. Most of the time, my schedule is booked for a few months ahead. There are not enough physicians to go around, so PAs and NPs help fill that void,” said Mohyuddin.

Specialists join team

    In addition to introducing the care team approach, OSF Saint Anthony’s added several specialists to its roster of physicians this year. The move puts OSF Saint Anthony’s at the forefront of continuing to provide needed specialty care in the River Bend.
    New staff additions at OSF Saint Anthony’s include: Dr. Eminajulo Adekoya, urologist; Dr. Wonil Tae, endocrinologist; Dr. Nadeem Ahmed, pulmonologist; Dr. Cliff Martin and Dr. Dennis Sands, both specializing in women’s health/gynecology; and Dr. Wei Lin, medical oncologist and hematologist.
    “We are blessed to have all of these doctors joining OSF Saint Anthony’s Physician Group,” said Ajay Pathak, president and CEO of OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center. “There is a tremendous need for these areas of specialty care in our community, and we are excited to add these full-time physicians to our team of health-care professionals.”

Continued recognition

    OSF Saint Anthony’s was also one of 22 Illinois hospitals named an Outstanding Patient Experience Award Recipient by Healthgrades, an online resource that provides quality, patient satisfaction and patient safety information on hospitals and physicians. The distinction recognizes hospitals that provide an overall outstanding patient experience and is awarded based on actual patient surveys.
    “Our goal is to always see and care for the person within every patient,” Pathak said.

Going virtual

    Hands-on health care isn’t the only option at OSF Saint Anthony’s. The River Bend community saw the launch of OSF OnCall, which provides patients with minor complaints access to a health care professional by smartphone, tablet or computer 24/7.
    “Virtual urgent care is a game changer in regards to the ability to create timely access for our community,” Pathak said. “It’s essentially a modern-day house call. Some illnesses and injuries may be minor, but still require the care of a medical provider. Now with OSF OnCall, patients are connecting with and ‘seeing’ these providers without making an appointment or leaving the comfort of their jobs or homes.”
    Once logged in at www.osfoncall.org, patients are connected directly to a medical professional who will be able to see them using the camera on their device (Face Time, Skype). Each virtual visit is $35. The face-to-face consultation and assessment provides patients direct access to the care and treatment they need, around the clock.

About OSF HealthCare

    OSF HealthCare, an integrated health system owned and operated by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, Peoria, Illinois, includes OSF HealthCare System consisting of 11 acute care facilities and two colleges of nursing. It also has a physician organization, OSF Medical Group.

About OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center

    OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center has been rooted in the greater Alton community for 90 years. Established by The Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George and sponsored by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, the 203-bed health system operates with two main campuses – OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center and OSF Saint Clare’s Hospital.
    The Health Center, recognized by The Joint Commission as a Top Provider for Key Quality Measures, is home to advanced cancer, stroke and heart technology, nationally-certified imaging, oncology and rehabilitative services, advanced surgical services, a wound center and an emergency room.
    For more information about OSF Anthony’s, visit www.osfsaintanthonys.org.