OSF Saint Anthony’s progressing to new model of health care

    ALTON – To meet the needs of residents in the Riverbend region, OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center is progressing to a new model of health care that provides timely, convenient care with streamlined processes.
    “We partnered with Cornerstone Companies to build a new OSF PromptCare and physicians’ offices in Godfrey,” said David Wells, vice president of OSF Medical Group – Alton. “The new $5 million, 13,000-square-foot developer-owned site is scheduled to be completed in mid-December 2017.”
    This primary care site in Godfrey is part of a more extensive patient-centered network of primary care services that adopts a team-based care model and re-structures health care delivery processes, which helps to meet each patient’s needs and allows them to manage their health and well-being more proactively.
    “OSF Saint Anthony’s and OSF Medical Group continues to be committed to providing the highest quality care to our patients. We have renovated our primary care offices, recruited pediatric providers and added OSF OnCall, a virtual doctor’s visit for non-emergency health issues, to better serve the River Bend,” Wells said. “Health care is transforming, and we are transforming with it. We want to empower people to live healthy and stay out of the hospital.”
    The facility will offer 24 exam rooms and include eight providers, including physicians and advanced practice providers, laboratory services and imaging/X-ray services.
    “We will be moving other services out into the community in the coming year,” Wells said. “Physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy services will continue to expand and relocate, with the overall goal of creating a more coordinated network of care that is convenient and focused on the needs of patients.”
    Plans also include building a new cancer center on the OSF Saint Anthony’s campus in 2018.
    “The new cancer center is designed around the needs of our patients, including convenient access to our physicians on the campus of OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center.” Also, OSF Saint Anthony’s is utilizing innovative technology to pharmacy, intensive care and diagnostic imaging.
    “We recently added more innovation to our ICU and pharmacy with remote monitoring,” Wells said. “The technology is especially important in the ICU, where our patients and physicians have access to additional specialists to improve patient safety and outcomes.”
    Through this technology, a specially-trained eICU team of critical care physicians, nurses and various health-care professionals can accurately monitor critical care patients around the clock from an off-site location, called the eICU Center. The eICU Center is located in Peoria.
    OSF Saint Anthony’s recently acquired 3D tomosynthesis mammography technology for its Women’s Imaging Center.
    “We are pleased to bring area residents the newest diagnostic technology,” Wells said. “The new 3D mammography provides a series of detailed images that will provide enhanced images.”
    To improve emergency services, OSF Saint Anthony’s partnered with the Alton Fire Department as a primary resource hospital and will supply medication and supplies. And plans are being reviewed to upgrade the Emergency Department to meet the increase in demand by optimizing processes and improving patient flow.
    “Our goal is to transform health care by providing the highest quality health care that is affordable, leads to the best patient experience and ultimately impacts the overall health of our patients,” Wells said. “We emphasize engaging with residents, as well as business and civic leaders to improve the health of the Riverbend and impact the economic health of the entire region.”
    To learn more go to osfsaintanthonys.org/riverbend.