News

SwedishAmerican is pleased to announce it now offers implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) to its patients who suffer from heart disease. Developed by Boston Scientific and validated by clinical trials, HeartLogic Diagnostic is the first and only heart failure implantable device that provides an approximate 34 days advanced notice of an impending heart failure event.  SwedishAmerican is the only hospital in Rockford to offer this new diagnostic tool to heart patients.

The 33rd annual Ryan Jury Memorial Golf Outing, held Wednesday, June 20 at Aldeen Golf Club, raised more than $70,000, pushing total donations well over 1.3 million dollars. The outing is held each year by the Jury family in memory of their son, Ryan, who died of cancer at the age of 23 months in 1986.

Breast cancer is one of the most common and the second deadliest type of cancer among women. Early detection can help save lives. But that’s only if women adhere to the recommended screening guidelines. Thanks to SwedishAmerican, a division of UW Health, the hospital now offers a more comfortable and soothing mammography experience, making it less intimidating for women to get their yearly breast health exams.

SwedishAmerican Neuro & Headache Center has been helping patients find relief from headaches and migraines for more than ten years and is pleased to announce it now offers the first non-invasive vagus nerve stimulator for the acute treatment of pain associated with episodic cluster headache in adult patients. gammaCore, a small hand-held medical device, is applied at the neck and sends gentle, patented electrical stimulation through the skin to activate the vagus nerve, which results in the reduction of pain.

SwedishAmerican, a division of UW Health is excited to announce it has awarded $75,000 in five grants to local not-for-profit organizations through its Foundation. The Foundation hosted a special news conference today at SwedishAmerican Hospital to announce the winners of its 2nd annual Caring for our Community Grant. SwedishAmerican is the only hospital in Rockford that awards community grants. Money to support this program is a portion of the income made on investments.

SwedishAmerican Hospital and SwedishAmerican Medical Center/Belvidere is pleased to announce it received the Excellence in Tissue Donation award for its ongoing commitment to saving lives through organ donation. 16 hospitals were honored by University of Wisconsin Organ and Tissue Donation (UW OTD) for their efforts in organ donation. SwedishAmerican was the only hospital in Rockford to receive an award.

The 33rd annual Ryan Jury Memorial Golf Outing is scheduled for Wednesday, June 20. Golfing will be at Aldeen Golf Club, and the dinner will be held at Giovanni’s Restaurant and Convention Center.

SwedishAmerican EMS Department is now accepting applications for its 2018/2019 Fall Paramedic Program. The program is open to all high school graduates, 18 years of age or older, who hold a current EMT-Basic license from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Applications are due by Friday, July 20. Individuals will receive notice of acceptance (or denial) into the program by July 30.

If individuals are interested in the Paramedic Program, they must attend a mandatory orientation class at the SwedishAmerican EMS building, 4120 Charles Street, on one of the following dates:

SwedishAmerican Hospital was founded on June 6, 1911. To celebrate and honor its 107th anniversary, SwedishAmerican, a division of UW Health, is hosting a week-long celebration, June 4 – 9.

On Monday, June 4, SwedishAmerican kicks-off the week with Music Monday. Associates, patients and their families are invited to bring their lunch outside to the Heart Hospital Healing Garden and listen to live music from 11 AM – 1 PM. The SwedishAmerican Commons will also offer specials each day to celebrate the week.

On May 1, SwedishAmerican President and CEO Dr. Michael Born joined a group of top executives at Vizient's Mid-Atlantic Conference to talk about today’s critical healthcare challenges. Vizient, the largest member-driven, health care performance improvement company in the country, invited Dr. Born to attend and speak on post M&A integration, particularly regarding SwedishAmerican’s integration with UW Health.

SwedishAmerican is pleased to announce that it has once again been named an “Anticoagulation Center of Excellence” by the Anticoagulation Forum, a multidisciplinary non-profit organization that works to improve the quality of care for patients taking antithrombotic medications, otherwise known as blood thinners. SwedishAmerican’s Anticoagulation Clinic is only one of two clinics in Illinois to be noted as a Center of Excellence.

SwedishAmerican is pleased to welcome its new Cardiologist Dr. Moses Kyobe, MD. 

Dr. Kyobe comes to SwedishAmerican with more than 14 years of cardiology experience and is board certified in internal medicine, general cardiology, echocardiography and nuclear cardiology. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the American Medical Association and has a special interest in heart failure management and evaluation. 

SwedishAmerican’s Regional Cancer Center’s mission is to provide compassionate, supportive, comprehensive cancer care for our community. The Center does just that and is honored to host National Cancer Survivor Day event on Saturday, June 9 from 1 – 4 PM. All cancer survivors and their families are invited to join us for a special survivorship celebration at the Regional Cancer Center, 3535 North Bell School Road, Rockford.

The day will be filled with hope, inspiration and friendship and will feature a variety of activities including:

SwedishAmerican, in partnership with the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford (UIC), is pleased to welcome Family Medicine Physician Dr. Mary Jo Ironside to its Rochelle Clinic, 380 IL Route 38 East, Rochelle.

Dr. Ironside comes to SwedishAmerican with 35 years of experience and is board certified in Family Medicine. She received her medical degree from the University of Iowa College of Medicine and completed her residency at UIC Rockford. Dr. Ironside enjoys working with OB patients and has a special interest in wellness and healthy living.

Katy’s Place, located within the SwedishAmerican Regional Cancer Center, is hosting the following programs and classes in May:

Stretch & Strengthen – Every Monday in May from 11:15 – 12 PM (except for Memorial Day, 5/28). Has your cancer treatment left you feeling tired and week? Join this class to help build muscle and endurance. The focus will be on dynamic/static stretching, balance and core strengthening. If you are currently in treatment for cancer, you must have your oncologist’s written approval to attend this class.

Our city is faced with challenges, but along with challenges comes many opportunities for our community. That’s why SwedishAmerican Foundation, Rockford Police Department and Keith Creek Neighborhood Association are hosting a Spring Neighborhood Association Groups Gathering on Thursday, May 17 from 6 – 7:30 PM at Redeemer Church, 827 16th Street, Rockford.

SwedishAmerican is pleased to announce its redesigned website recently received a Platinum AVA Digital Award for creativity in web design. The hospital’s web design partner, Rockford-based Trekk, was the creative and technical group behind the redesign and helped launch the new site. This is Trekk’s second AVA Digital Award, but its first platinum. 

The eighth annual SAM’s Safety Fair will be held on Saturday, May 19, from 10 AM to 3 PM, on the grounds of SwedishAmerican Hospital (east side of the Hospital campus in front of Camelot Tower). Kids, along with their parents, will be able to visit 30 organizations’ booths during the event, which is being held in conjunction with Emergency Medical Services Week.

For the fourth consecutive year, the national industry magazine, Becker's Healthcare, has included SwedishAmerican in its "150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare" list, which includes both U.S. healthcare provider organizations, such as hospitals, health systems and healthcare companies that promote diversity within the workforce, employee engagement and professional growth.

SwedishAmerican, a division of UW Health is hosting a free health talk on Sunday, April 22 at 1 PM at St. Peter and Paul Church, 617 Lincoln Avenue, Rockford. SwedishAmerican Family Physician Dr. Marden Torrijos will discuss hypertension and high blood pressure. Individuals can learn if they are at risk, available treatment options and tips for families and individuals to stay healthy. Dr. Torrijos is fluent in Spanish and can answer your questions.

Nurses from SwedishAmerican will also be conducting free blood pressure checks. Everyone will take home a free gift.

The month of April is dedicated to encouraging Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors, and to celebrating those who have saved lives through the gift of donation. In 2016, more than 33,600 transplants brought renewed life to patients, however sadly 8,000 people die each year (22 people each day) because the organs they need are not donated in time.

The SwedishAmerican Regional Cancer Center is hosting two free educational talks during the month of April:

Drumming for Wellness will be held on Monday, April 9 at 6:00 PM. SwedishAmerican cancer patients and families are FREE; $10 for all other attendees. Space is limited. Register by calling (779) 696-7081.