OSF St. Joseph Medical Center

04/23/2026

⛪ Today we were honored to bless and open the new Chapel at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center — a space created with the greatest care and love for our patients, families, and Mission Partners.

This new chapel replaces the small, tucked‑away space near the surgical area. While similar in size (seating up to 50 people), its new location near the Emergency Department makes it far more visible and accessible — especially for families seeking comfort and spiritual respite during some of life’s most difficult moments.

✝️ The vision for this chapel began before COVID‑19, but like so many things, the pandemic paused our progress. Today’s celebration marks the completion of a long‑awaited effort made possible by the generosity of our community. The $2.4 million project was funded largely through contributions from former patients, families, community members, and our own Mission Partners.

The design reflects timeless beauty and intentionality. Warm wood tones, layered lighting, and sound‑softening materials create a calm, hopeful, and welcoming atmosphere for prayer and reflection. The Chapel also includes a Reconciliation Room for the sacrament of confession. The Stations of the Cross were lovingly brought over from the previous chapel, and the statue of Saint Francis of Assisi was gifted from the Mother House in Peoria.

🩵 While rooted in Catholic tradition, the Chapel is open daily to people of all faith backgrounds. It stands as a reminder of our Mission to care for the whole person — body, mind, and spirit. Streaming capabilities will be a future goal, but for now, we are grateful to offer a sacred space for all who need a moment of peace.

We are deeply thankful to everyone who helped make this possible. May this Chapel continue to be a place of comfort, healing, and hope for all who enter.

Read the full story from our OSF Newsroom here: https://newsroom.osfhealthcare.org/new-chapel-to-take-center-stage-at-osf-healthcare-st-joseph-medical-center/

Learn more about OSF St. Joseph here: https://bit.ly/4eChRKc

04/18/2026

This month, Mission Partners from OSF Medical Group - Pulmonary and Neurosurgery volunteered together at the Midwest Food Bank.

With 22 volunteers, our teams packaged more than 1,300 bags of corn flakes in just two hours — a meaningful contribution to families in need.

We are grateful for their dedication, teamwork, and commitment to serving our community with the greatest care and love.

Learn about ways to volunteer with OSF St. Joseph here: https://bit.ly/4crZ7KQ

04/17/2026

On March 26, OSF HealthCare was honored at the Illinois State Capitol as part of a special advocacy visit led by our incredible OSF nurses.

Twenty‑two nurses from across the Ministry were selected to travel to Springfield, where they met with lawmakers and championed key issues that impact our patients, our Mission Partners, and the communities we serve.

Their voices, expertise, and compassion made a powerful impact — showing what it looks like when nurses lead with courage, advocacy, and the greatest care and love.

Please join us in celebrating these outstanding Mission Partners who represented OSF with pride and purpose. 👏💙

04/17/2026

Today we honor Michelle McDonald, who has dedicated 34 years to OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center.

Michelle’s commitment, compassion, and steady presence have made a lasting impact on our patients, our Mission Partners, and our community. Her work reflects what it truly means to serve with the greatest care and love.

Please join us in congratulating Michelle on this incredible milestone and thanking her for more than three decades of exceptional service!

Find your long-lasting career here: https://bit.ly/4tlwAhp

04/16/2026

Each March, OSF HealthCare proudly hosts the Social Workers Achieving Greatness (SWAG) event — a special celebration honoring the incredible impact Social Workers across Care Management, Home Care Services, and PACE make every day.

Social workers strengthen our healthcare system in powerful ways. Through care coordination, patient advocacy, emotional support, and connecting individuals with vital resources, they help reduce readmissions, improve treatment adherence, support vulnerable populations, and enhance the overall patient experience. Their work drives better outcomes while promoting compassionate, cost‑effective care rooted in our Mission and Values.

Today, we are honored to recognize our 2026 SWAG Award recipients:

🏆 Rookie of the Year
• Grace Gunde, Case Manager I, Inpatient Case Management – OSF St. Joseph Medical Center

🤝 Community Engagement Award
• Cynthia Fargher, Ambulatory Complex Care Manager, Ambulatory Complex Care Management

🌟 Transformational Leader Award
• Bethany Demery, Lead/Educator, Ambulatory Complex Care Management

💛 Above & Beyond Award
• Ashley Reichert, Ambulatory Complex Care Manager, Ambulatory Complex Care Management

🌺 Social Worker of the Year – St. Louise Award
• Bethany Demery, Lead/Educator, Ambulatory Complex Care Management

Please join us in celebrating these outstanding Mission Partners whose dedication, compassion, and expertise make a profound difference for our patients, families, and communities.

If you want to join our team of Mission Partners, you can learn more here: https://bit.ly/4cetkOD

04/15/2026

04/14/2026

📢 Shout‑out to our incredible team for completing OSF St. Joseph’s first leadless pacemaker procedure — a major step forward in advancing cardiac care for our community.

This innovative technology:
✨ Reduces infection risk
✨ Eliminates lead‑related complications
✨ Allows for a less invasive approach
✨ Supports quicker patient recovery

Reaching this milestone took focus, collaboration, and a whole lot of teamwork. We couldn’t be more proud of the Mission Partners who made it happen.

👏 Here’s to continued innovation, compassionate care, and the people who make both possible.

Learn more about the OSF Cardiovascular Institute here: https://bit.ly/4dMUMEu

04/14/2026

We’re raising funds for our OSF St. Joseph Smart Meals program, which offers low‑cost, healthy meal options to families in our community.

If you’re able, please consider supporting this effort with the purchase of a cookie or two from our cafeteria on Friday, April 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 pm.

Your generosity helps us continue serving families with dignity, compassion, and practical support.

Which cookie do you choose?

See a sample Smart Meal recipe here: https://bit.ly/420SU3C

04/13/2026

📞 It’s National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week!

At OSF St. Joseph, we are deeply grateful for the incredible team that answers our calls day in and day out.

They are the calm in the chaos, the steady voice on the other end of the line, and the first link in the chain of care our community and Mission Partners depend on.

Thank you for always being there. We appreciate you more than you know.

Learn more about OSF St. Joseph here: https://bit.ly/4vqWcL5

04/12/2026

When local health leaders see the care happening inside the OSF OnCall Connect mobile maternity care van, it builds trust – for them and for the communities they serve.

From testing to ongoing support during pregnancy and after birth, this care on wheels helps remove barriers and bring care closer to home.

04/10/2026

Yesterday, our OSF St. Joseph Mission Partners joined the community to honor the incredible impact of the Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network.

We were deeply moved by the powerful stories shared by an organ donor family and a grateful recipient.

Moments like these remind us of the profound love, courage, and compassion that surround the gift of life. It is truly humbling to witness how one act of generosity can transform so many lives.
We are blessed to be part of this mission and grateful for everyone who continues to support and inspire hope in our community. 💙

Learn more about the Gift of Hope program here: https://giftofhope.org