No Merger Between Elmhurst Memorial and Northwestern Memorial

CEO tells Crain's the "timing is not optimal" for the two healthcare organizations to merge.

Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare has ended merger talks with Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, according to a Thursday article in Crain's Chicago Business. Elmhurst President and CEO W. Peter Daniels was quoted in the article as saying, "We recently agreed with Northwestern Memorial that the timing is not optimal for a full affiliation." Elmhurst Patch and other media outlets reported last October that the two entities were exploring a merger to expand Northwestern's reach into the western suburbs. The merger also would have helped shore up the financial position of EMHC, which is facing hundreds of millions of dollars in debt due to the construction of its new 866,000-square-foot hospital on Brush Hill Road. It is unclear whether Thursday's …

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Little Miss Illinois Presents Toys to Elmhurst Hospital Pediatrics Department

She's only 7, but she knows she wants to help other kids.

Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Pediatrics Department received a generous donation from an unlikely source—7-year-old Paris Spratt.   The young Addison resident is the reigning Little Miss Illinois (also voted most photogenic), and she appears in a TV commercial now airing. Spratt wanted to give back to the community, so she took some of the money she received from the TV commercial and purchased toys for children admitted to Elmhurst Memorial Hospital.   Spratt visited the hospital recently to deliver the toys she purchased for boys and girls of various ages. “We are always so grateful to receive donations like this,” said Corky Gregory, assistant manager of pediatrics at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital. “It’s so important for our younger patients …

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Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare Lobbying Hard for Tax-exempt Status, Reductions in Medicaid Cuts

But lawmakers say day of reckoning has come for Illinois.

Two major issues drew leaders from Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare to Springfield this week: Gov. Pat Quinn's proposed $2.7 billion Medicaid cut and the hospital's desire to re-instate its tax-exampt status. Both issues are taking center-stage at the same time Elmhurst Memorial is facing hundreds of millions of dollars in debt due to the construction of its new facility on Brush Hill Road. The hospital also is in talks with Northwestern Memorial Healthcare about a possible merger. 'Rendezvous With Reality' EMHC representatives met with state legislators Wednesday to discuss the consequences of Gov. Pat Quinn's proposed 23 percent Medicaid cut. The cuts are so drastic, they say, it would force hospitals across the state to reduce or eliminate …

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Jim Court

9:20 am on Sunday, June 3, 2012

Recently I was a patient. As much as I am a fan of dramatic architecture and expensive building materials, is this appropriate for a hospital ? I am sure that this is reflected in the exorbitant bills that get mentioned. Shouldn't a facility be simply efficient and well designed ? Trump Towers is nice but it adds nothing towards effective delivery of health care. I have been told that once I see …   more ›

Emergency Room Wait Times Now Available by Text

If it's not a life-threatening emergency, patients may want to calculate the opportune time to come in.

A life-threatening injury or illness obviously requires an immediate trip to the emergency room, and those patients will be seen right away. But in other instances, an emergency room visit may mean a patient has to wait to be seen. Now, patients can learn ahead of time just how long they may need to wait. Elmhurst Memorial Hospital has made Emergency Department wait times available online. Patients can also access the wait times from a mobile device by texting “EMHTIME” to 69302. The service will calculate the time a patient checks ­in to the time they are placed in a room and treatment begins. Times are updated every 15 minutes to provide a real-­time sense of what can be expected before visiting the Emergency Department, however it can …

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It's a Boy!

First baby of 2012 born at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital arrives a little late.

Giovanna and Mike Tomaszewski of Addison are the proud parents of the first baby born in 2012 at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital. Little Joseph Jerry Tomaszewski came into the world at 10:41 p.m. Jan. 1 weighing 8 pounds, 3 ounces and measuring 21 inches long.   He is the first child of Giovanna, 28, and Mike, 30. His special status as the New Year's baby came as a shock to his parents since he was born so late in the day. "I thought for sure there would have been more (babies born that day)," said Giovanna, who brought their special bundle home Tuesday afternoon. "It wasn't very crowded over there. I always thought there would be millions of babies coming every single day." Joseph's due date was Dec. 28, according to an ultrasound. "We never …

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Township Assessor: New Elmhurst Hospital is Going On the Tax Rolls

But School District 205 officials expect hospital status will change on appeal, and they will have to give back about $1.4 million in tax revenue.

Determining how much to request in property taxes each year is never an exact science for any taxing body. But this year, a big wild card will come into play. Hospitals all over Illinois are being evaluated to determine whether they will continue to receive tax-exempt status. Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare is one of those providers. If the state determines EMHC provides enough charity care, it will continue to operate as a nonprofit and will not have to pay millions in property taxes to the city, park district, library and school district next year. If the state determines EMHC is a for-profit entity, it will have to pay up. In addition to the new hospital at York and Brush Hill Roads, EMHC operates at a number of other properties in town. …

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New Kids Zone at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Will Allow Diana Riley's Memory to Live On

Kickoff for Kids donates $30,000 for Kids Zone in the emergency department.

When Diana Riley passed away suddenly in 2008, her husband, Steve, approached Kickoff for Kids about making donations to the local non-profit organization in her memory. Diana, who was known for her love and dedication to children, was an avid supporter of the group and the work it does to give back to the community by supporting its children. Mike LaSpisa, chairman of Kickoff for Kids and friend of the Rileys, felt strongly that donations should directly benefit children in the community. As a result, Kickoff for Kids has generously pledged $30,000 to the Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Foundation to name a family waiting lounge in the new hospital in Diana's memory and to help create a Kids Zone in the Emergency Department. With support from …

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Forever Fit

'Biggest Loser' Michael Ventrella Inspires Elmhurst Hospital Employees

"Biggest Loser" winner shares his weight loss struggle and eventual triumph during weekly walks at the hospital.

Michael Ventrella was told by his doctor that he would likely die within five years if he didn't shed some of his 526 pounds. He was barely 29 years old. "I lost one of my best friends around that time, as well, to a brain aneurysm at the age of 29," Ventrella said. "I suddenly realized my own mortality." So, a year and a half ago, he signed on to NBC's hit TV show, "Biggest Loser," and won by losing half of his body weight. Today, the Bartlett resident is a new man with new habits. Exercise and plenty of activity are on the calendar daily, and he has become a personal trainer. He now eats mainly fish and vegetables, eschewing processed carbohydrates, dairy, meat and sugar. In addition, Ventrella is part of the Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare…

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Man Brings Gun to Hospital, Texting Teen Crashes Car and Someone Shoves Walnuts into Teller Machine

Also, eggs thrown, paint scratched, glass broken and bleachers busted.

Packing Heat at the Hospital Michael Simmonelis, 53, 297 Yorkfield, Elmhurst, was arrested and charged with unauthorized use of a weapon after an incident at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, 155 E. Brush Hill, at 1:12 p.m. Aug. 22. Simmonelis reportedly was visiting his girlfriend in the hospital when staff determined he was intoxicated and unable to take care of himself. Hospital staff also discovered he was in possession of a .38 caliber handgun and 35 rounds of ammunition. He was released on bond. Texting May Have Led to Accident A 16-year-old Elmhurst girl received citations for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, texting while driving and driving without insurance after the silver Honda Odyssey she was driving crashed into a car …

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