St. Mary’s Kankakee -Community Page

04/10/2026

Where Emergency Medicine meets Excellence!!

St. Mary’s Hospital Earns National Recognition for Emergency Care Excellence

PRC Honors Hospital as 4-Star Top Performer for Emergency Department Care
(KANKAKEE, IL) April 6, 2026 – St. Mary’s Hospital, a not-for-profit member of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, has been recognized as a 4-Star Top Performer for Overall Emergency Department Careby Professional Research Consultants (PRC), a national healthcare research firm, earning its Award of Distinction for Excellent Performance and ranking among the Top 25% nationally in the Emergency Department category in the 2026 Excellence in Healthcare Awards.

The Excellence in Healthcare Awards recognize organizations and individuals who demonstrate outstanding performance in improving patient experience, employee engagement, and physician alignment, based on comprehensive survey feedback from patients, employees, and physicians.

“It is an honor to recognize St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee with this Excellence in Healthcare Award for their deserving work,” said Joe M. Inguanzo, Ph.D., President and CEO of PRC. “It takes true dedication and determination to achieve this level of excellence in Overall Care in Emergency Medicine, and St. Mary’s has shown its commitment to making their hospital a better place to work, a better place to
practice medicine, and a better place for their patients to be treated.”

This recognition follows the hospital’s continued service to the community, including caring for residents affected by the March 10 EF-3 tornado that impacted the Aroma Park area.

“Since 1897, our emergency department has remained open to serve the community, and that commitment continues today,” said Patrick Kerrwood, Chief Executive Officer of St. Mary’s Hospital. “We are here to care for every patient with compassion and respect, regardless of their circumstances.”

The award also builds on recent national recognition from the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), which granted St. Mary’s Emergency Department Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) in October. St. Mary’s is the only hospital serving Kankakee County to receive this designation, reflecting its commitment to specialized, high-quality care for older adults.

To learn more about the 2026 Excellence in Healthcare Awards, including eligibility and criteria, visit PRCExcellence.com.

03/30/2026

Every pregnancy is special 💕— St. Mary’s Ultrasound Department still recognizes that and provides compassionate care, advanced imaging, and a personal experience for every mom-to-be. From first glimpses to precious milestones, we’re here for you every step of the way. We provide a complimentary 30 week 4D scan of baby 👶🏼with every 20 week anatomy scan! All performed in a friendly and comfortable environment. Call with any physician order to schedule your next OB ultrasound 815-937-3098.

03/26/2026

Celebrating founders day with ice cream and 129 years of the sisters legacy at St. Mary’s Hospital.

03/18/2026

Congratulations to our St. Patrick’s day Raffle winner. Sandra from Dietary.

03/12/2026

03/11/2026

St.Marys is still accepting BCBS, just in negotiations.

03/10/2026

St. Mary’s Hospital Named to Forbes’ 2026 Top Hospitals List

St. Mary’s earns Five-Star Overall Distinction on Forbes Top Hospitals list

[KANKAKEE, IL]—March 9, 2026—In a national evaluation by Forbes Magazine, St. Mary’s Hospital, a non-profit member of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, is recognized as one of the country’s 2026 Top Hospitals. As the only Five-Star Overall honoree in Kankakee County and the surrounding region, St. Mary’s is part of a prestigious national ranking that focuses on high-quality, patient-centered care. This distinction places St. Mary’s among an elite group of hospitals across the United States, demonstrating excellence in clinical outcomes, operational best practices, value, and patient experience. In addition to its overall five-star rating, St. Mary’s also scored Four-Stars for Outcomes, Best Practices, and Value of Care Delivered, placing it in the Top 90th percentile in the nation.

“Being recognized by Forbes as a top hospital in the nation is an affirmation of the high clinical standards we hold ourselves to every day,” said Kalisha Hill, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer at St. Mary’s. “Because of the emphasis Forbes places on patient outcomes in its analysis, this recognition speaks to our hospital’s unwavering focus on clinical excellence and patient safety.”

Patrick Kerrwood, Chief Executive Officer for St. Mary’s Hospital, added, “This distinction reflects the excellent care, accountability, and compassion our physicians, nurses, and care teams bring to every patient interaction. It is an achievement that belongs to our caregivers and to the community that trusts us with their care.”

St. Mary’s remains one of the region’s most-awarded community hospitals, dedicated to preserving broader access to care for patients across Kankakee County and beyond. It has also received four “A” Grades in a row for Patient Safety by the Leapfrog Group, an independent national non-profit watchdog focused on patient safety. St. Mary’s also earned “A” grades in four areas on the Lown Institute’s 2025–26 Hospital Index for Social Responsibility: Pay Equity, Health Equity, Patient Safety, and Inclusivity. The Forbes Five-Star designation underscores the value of accessible, community-focused care and affirms St. Mary’s readiness to meet the needs of patients today and for future generations.

The Forbes Top Hospitals methodology draws on publicly reported data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and applies rigorous, data-driven criteria, with substantial emphasis on patient outcomes and adjustments for social determinants of health. This approach enables fair, evidence-based comparisons among more than 2,600 hospitals nationwide that were evaluated for the 2026 rankings.

For additional details on the Forbes Top Hospitals 2026 methodology, visit www.forbes.com/lists/top-hospitals.

Founded in 1897, St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee, IL, is part of the non-profit Prime Healthcare Foundation. It is a 182-bed acute care facility that remains a cornerstone of the community, offering a comprehensive Emergency Department that is the only ED in the area with Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) by the American College of Emergency Physicians and American Geriatrics Society, recognizing it as specially trained and equipped to care for older adults. St. Mary’s also offers a full complement of specialty care. It specializes in comprehensive cardiac catheterization, cardiac ablation, advanced surgical treatments, cancer treatment, stroke, and orthopedics. It offers an array of minimally invasive procedures utilizing the latest robotic-assisted technology, along with comprehensive imaging and lab services, an onsite retail pharmacy, and dedicated inpatient rehabilitation services, all conveniently located on one campus.

03/10/2026

St.Marys’s Hospital continues to excel with patient safety. The only Leapfrog A rated hospital in Kankakee.

03/05/2026

Great Catch Tammy!
Thanks for all you do!

03/04/2026

St. Mary’s is blessed with an amazing team of cancer care physicians that dedicate time for multidisciplinary case reviews to ensure accurate diagnoses and personalized treatments! Drs. Gonzalez (general surgery), Frye (urology), Hill (pathology), Klepczyk (radiation oncology) and Zaheer (medical oncology).

03/03/2026

A good catch for Julie!
Thank you for all you do!

03/03/2026