Rochelle Community Hospital

03/07/2026

The Rochelle Community Hospital Board of Trustees is made up of dedicated community members who volunteer their expertise and leadership to advance the mission of RCH. We deeply appreciate their thoughtful guidance and strong stewardship on behalf of the communities we serve.

We wanted to share more information about the members of our Board of Trustees to showcase just how much experience, thought, and care that goes into the decisions that make our hospital successful and available to the Rochelle community.

Next up, is Brent Ohlinger:
Active in the Rochelle community, Brent Ohlinger has long served on local boards and volunteered with a variety of organizations. As Community President at First State Bank, he and his team invest in the community by supporting local businesses, advancing development, and assisting local residents. Recognizing that Rochelle is fortunate to have access to essential, high-quality care, he is committed to advocating for the future of Rochelle Community Hospital. Through his role on the RCH Board of Trustees, Brent helps to guide decisions that strengthen the hospital’s services and meet the community’s needs. During his time off, he likes to golf, hunt, and spend time with his family.

Perspective:
“It is important that Rochelle Community Hospital continues to be a locally-owned hospital that provides quality care for our community. It serves as an anchor for our local community, supporting the financial wellbeing of our town and investing in public health with local partners.”

03/03/2026

This March, discover the power of nutrition during !

Find out how nutrition has the power to help you and your community thrive: sm.eatright.org/NNM

02/27/2026

🎉A beautiful Friday to celebrate!

Our Food & Nutrition team celebrated two of its team members for being accepted into nursing school! Bailey will be attending the Kishwaukee program while Kennedy joins NIU's.

Congratulations to you both, and we are proud to have been a part of your journey!

02/26/2026

The Rochelle Community Hospital Board of Trustees is made up of dedicated community members who volunteer their expertise and leadership to advance the mission of RCH. We deeply appreciate their thoughtful guidance and strong stewardship on behalf of the communities we serve.

We wanted to share more information about the members of our Board of Trustees to showcase just how much experience, thought, and care that goes into the decisions that make our hospital successful and available to the Rochelle community.

Next up, is Geri Dee Hayden:
Geri Dee Hayden’s connection to RCH is both deeply personal and professional. She and her family are all patients at the hospital, and in 2024, the healthcare team saved her daughter’s life after a sudden cardiac arrest. This past summer, her daughter interned at RCH and plans to become a doctor herself. Geri’s professional background as a banker—managing bond issuances and monitoring the financial performance of several hospitals— has given her a strong understanding of fiscal responsibility. As a local business owner and active community member, Geri draws inspiration from Mother Teresa’s words: “Not all of us can do great things, but we can all do small things with great love.”

Having witnessed the financial challenges faced by hospitals in smaller communities, she values RCH’s strong governance as a vital asset to the community.

Perspective
“RCH has a great leadership team. They are forward-thinking, and the trustees really care about the overall health and success of the hospital, making sure that our mission aligns with the needs of the people we serve.”

02/24/2026

Spring break is about a month away, so sign up your 6-8th grader to become Safe Sitter Certified on March 24th at RCH!

Safe Sitter® is designed to prepare students in grades 6-8 to be safe when they’re home alone, watching younger siblings, or babysitting. The Instructor-led class is filled with fun games and role-playing exercises. We cover Safety Skills, Child Care & Development, First Aid & Rescue Skills, and Life & Business Skills.

March 24th registration: https://www.rochellehospital.com/.../safe-sitter-class.../

02/23/2026

We have the best staff available to help you with all of your occupational health service needs. Located at the Petro Travel Center, just off I-39, Exit 99.

We do physicals and drug testing Monday through Friday. Please call for an appointment: 815-561-1283

02/20/2026

RCH is starting the first half off 2026 by highlighting our Administration team for our monthly employee spotlight segment. Next up, is Lori Gutierrez, RCH CFO!

Lori is from Sterling and has been our Chief Financial Officer for 14 years, but she has been with RCH for a total of 16 years.

Lori started her career off in public accounting in Chicago before she moved to Dixon and continued in public accounting there. When she started at RCH, she made the slight change to Financial Services Manager, where she began her experience in Healthcare for the first time. After a couple of years in that position, she then applied for the open CFO position where she then added an Administrative role to her career experience. Since that transition, Lori recognizes how her job includes much more than just accounting or the financial aspect which she’s used to. She finds it interesting to have a more comprehensive hand in supporting staff, strategic decisions, and securing the future of our facility.

One thing Lori has had a great influence on is securing RCH’s finances to be stable and keep our facility running as an independent non-profit. She sees the value in RCH having the ability to cater to its community as an independent healthcare entity, and it’s a big focus for her part in the strategic planning for RCH.

When Lori is able to step away from her role in the hospital, she’s usually at one of her kid’s events, no matter the season, her kids are involved in year-round activities. Her family also enjoys going on cruises throughout the year when they can. Her favorite holiday is Christmas because she loves to decorate, but she does miss the years when her kids were smaller and their excitement was infectious. Lori’s favorite meal would either be a good steak or something Italian, and if she could have any superpower it would be to magically be a morning person. Don’t we
all (for those that also suffer)!

RCH is lucky to have Lori’s financial expertise and guidance to keep is stable in serving our community!

02/19/2026

*Reminder: Applications must be returned to Michelle LaPage, RCH Auxiliary Scholarship Chairman, at the hospital by Wednesday, March 4, 2026.*

Scholarships are available through the Rochelle Community Hospital Auxiliary to area students who are planning to pursue careers in the healthcare field. Six scholarships are available in 2026 which include the Ward A. and Mabel T. Miller Scholarship.

The $2,000 scholarships are available to those students who are currently attending or graduates of Rochelle, Ashton-Franklin Center or the Oregon High School district, a current Rochelle area resident (living within 15 miles of Rochelle), an RCH employee or child of an RCH employee. If you have previously received an RCH scholarship, you may reapply after two years. Applicants should be currently enrolled or have been accepted into an accredited program.

An application form can be found on the hospital’s website at
https://www.rochellehospital.com/rch-now-accepting-2026-auxiliary-scholarship-applications/

02/18/2026

The Rochelle Community Hospital Board of Trustees is made up of dedicated community members who volunteer their expertise and leadership to advance the mission of RCH. We deeply appreciate their thoughtful guidance and strong stewardship on behalf of the communities we serve.

We wanted to share more information about the members of our Board of Trustees to showcase just how much experience, thought, and care that goes into the decisions that make our hospital successful and available to the Rochelle community.

Next up, is Earl Fleming:
Growing up in Rochelle, Earl Fleming is a lifelong patient at RCH and understands how having access to local healthcare strengthens a community’s quality of life. He has been exposed to valuable insight and perspective in healthcare as his wife has been a nurse for 15 years. Before joining the Board of Trustees, he served as a Board member and past Treasurer of the Rochelle Community Hospital Foundation from 2017-2024. In his current role as Community Bank President at Central Bank Illinois, combined with a 33- year career in finance, Earl contributes significant fiscal expertise to his role to the Board. When he’s not traveling with his wife and family, he coaches youth sports and volunteers with a youth group. Earl is driven by two things. One, is to honor his family by the way he lives his life as they have been both an anchor and a rudder to him. Two, is to live by Matthew 6:33, paraphrased as “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness...”

Perspective:
“Our hospital staff and current Board of Trustees are incredible. I want to contribute what I have to offer to support the work they are doing.”

02/17/2026

RCH hosted its second CareerQuest event yesterday for area high schoolers to participate in a day’s worth of RCH and hospital career experience!

https://www.mystateline.com/news/rochelle-community-hospital-hosts-career-quest-program-for-high-school-students/

02/17/2026

RCH hosted its second CareerQuest event yesterday for area high schoolers to participate in a day’s worth of RCH and hospital career experience!

Local high school students get a hands-on look at what it’s like working at a hospital.

02/16/2026

Today is a great day to donate blood. Walk-ins are welcome. Bus is in the north parking lot til 5 pm. Don't forget to vote for your favorite High School when you give blood. !