Effingham, Il – HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital recently participated in “The Opioid Crisis Next Door” workshop, held October 31 at HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. Representing St. Anthony’s were Autumn McCormick, RN, Manager of ICU, Surgical Care and IV Therapy; Danielle White, RN, Facilitator of ICU, Surgical Care and IV Therapy, and Dot Behrns, APN, FNP-C, Chair of the hospital’s Board of Directors.
The Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network, the Illinois Department of Public Health Center for Rural Health, the Illinois Health and Hospital Association, the Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program, and the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine organized and sponsored this all-day event.
This workshop was attended by approximately 135 representatives of local coalitions, health departments, behavioral health, law enforcement, health care providers, and all other community stakeholders, with the goal of identifying, organizing, and activating local resources in combatting opioid misuse, heroin use, and substance use disorders.
Speakers included:
Don Kauerauf, Assistant Director, Illinois Department of Public Health; Dr. Ayame Takahashi, Director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Training, SIU Department of Psychiatry; Nicholas Morgan, Outreach Specialist, Comprehensive Wellness Centers; Terry Madsen, Community Health Needs Consultant, ICAHN; Deb Wood, RN, BSN, EMS/Safety/Risk/Disaster Services Manager; Perry Memorial Hospital, Princeton; Dr. Paul Bonucci, MD, Perry Memorial Prompt Care and IVCH Emergency Department Medical Director; and Verlon Johnson, Associate Consortium Administrator for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Autumn McCormick, St. Anthony’s Manager of ICU, Surgical Care and IV Therapy, shared why hospital representatives wanted to attend this conference.
“It was really helpful to keep abreast of the opioid crisis in general, as well as see what other organizations are doing to try to address this issue,” she said.
“The conference also allowed us to learn what new or additional services are available for those struggling with this addiction in Illinois.”
This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration of the US Department of Health and Human Services under the Rural Hospital Flexibility grant program.
For more information, please contact the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network at 815.875.2999 or email Pat Schou, Executive Director, at pschou@icahn.org.
For more information about HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, visit St. Anthony’s Web site at stanthonyshospital.org.
HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital is part of the Southern Illinois Division of Hospital Sisters Health System, which also includes HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese, HSHS Holy Family Hospital in Greenville, and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland.