Preservation Service Releases Exclusive Line of Products for Families

Bloomington, IN – January 31, 2012 – Legacy Keepers, the nationwide legacy and family history preservation service, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA), a national nonprofit organization that provides optimal care and services to individuals with dementia, their caregivers and families, have teamed up to help families capture the memories of loved ones in a keepsake book or high-definition video.  The special “AFA Forever” line is available to everyone, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the foundation.

Leaving behind a legacy has become increasingly important over the years. With an estimated 5.1 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease, passing down family traditions, precious memories and celebrating one’s history is becoming a new custom and is far more cherished. The impact of one’s legacy cannot be measured, but capturing and preserving it will allow it to live on forever.

“As a nonprofit organization, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is dedicated to providing families with services that meet their emotional as well as practical needs,” says President and Founding CEO Eric J. Hall. “We understand how important it is for families to reflect on the lives of their loved ones, especially as Alzheimer’s disease progresses. We are pleased to present them with this opportunity through Legacy Keepers to pay tribute to their loved ones in a special way.”

Legacy Keepers utilizes their national network of personal historians, who will interview the client in a way that is the most comfortable for them. If desired, a customer can even have an in-person interview done in the comfort of their own home.  Immediately following the interview, Legacy Keepers’ skilled creative team of writers, editors and designers ensure that the end result is something clients and their families will cherish for years to come.

“The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is an outstanding organization that strives to help individuals during a challenging time,” says Senior Vice President of Marketing for Legacy Keepers, Keith Ogorek. “We are very excited to be collaborating with them.”

The AFA Forever line is now available on the Legacy Keepers website at http://www.legacykeepers.com/Services/AFAForeverCompare/ and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s online store at http://www.alzfdn.org/AFAStore/estore.html.

A Legacy Consultant can give you more information to help you decide which package is right for you. Simply call 877.444.3607 to speak with a representative.

About Legacy Keepers

Legacy Keepers is one of the only companies with a national network of Personal Historians and other heritage-preserving professionals who capture your story and turn your words and pictures into professionally produced audio, print and video legacies to share with present and future generations. With our private and professional services, Legacy Keepers makes it simple to record your personal legacy or that of a loved one.

About The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, based in New York, is a national nonprofit organization that unites more than 1,600 member organizations nationwide with the goal of providing optimal care and services to individuals with dementia, their caregivers and families. Its services include counseling and referrals by licensed social workers via a toll-free hot line, e-mail, Skype and live chat; educational materials; a free quarterly magazine for caregivers; and professional training. For more information about AFA, call toll-free 866-AFA-8484 or visit www.alzfdn.org.

So Much More to Phoenix than Phoenix

By

Dean & Nancy Hoch

“Hi, Brett, how would you like to head to sunny Arizona with us for a few days?”

“Where in Arizona?” our 13-year-old grandson replied.

“Phoenix area,” we answered.

“What’s to do there?” was his next question.

“Not sure,” we replied, “but we bet we can find some fun things to
discover, not the least of which might be some sunshine!”

The above phone conversation occurred on a gloomy day in Southeast
Idaho where the weather had been gray and cold for weeks on end. As
the grandparents on this venture, we just wanted to escape to some
warmth and bright skies and experience some fun in the sun with our
grandson.

Rather than contacting the Phoenix Visitors Bureau for some ideas of
kid-oriented things to do, we decided to venture out to some of the
big city’s satellite communities – namely Apache Junction, Chandler,
Mesa, and Tempe which collectively bill their communities as SUNNY
ARIZONA — and which we like to call “The Big Four.” We wanted to see
what offerings might be available, and were we surprised at the
plethora of possibilities from which to choose – and all just a short
drive from Sky Harbor Airport and downtown Phoenix.

Chandler, our first stop, is a beehive of history, innovation, high
tech companies and much more. It’s Arizona’s fourth largest city and
growing fast.

Dinner first night there was at the Old Spaghetti Factory located in
Chandler’s huge Fashion Center which we found to be a hit for kids and
adults alike — and a great way for us to start off our adventure.

A morning at Apache Junction’s Goldfield Ghost Town was a great
diversion filled with Arizona’s colorful mining history. The site
includes off-road Apache Trail Jeep Tours, horseback trail rides at
the OK Corral Stables, and guided hikes in the rugged desert terrain
of Lost Dutchman State Park — plus a great lunch at The Mining Camp,
a family style “all you can eat” restaurant. Plates heaped with
barbeque ribs, oven baked ham, chicken with stuffing and gravy – even
some yummy cactus jelly along with the rolls. Kids love everything
about this place. So do their parents and grandparents, including the
live country band.  goldfieldghosttown.com

Brett had the pleasure of meeting up with a young man his age from
Georgia named Will who was traveling with a very young looking
great-grandmother. The boys hit it off immediately and were able to
enjoy several venues together. Both being bright kids (just ask the
grandparents), they asked to extend their allotted time at Arizona’s
Museum of Natural History in Mesa, where attractions include
historical exhibits, a three-story Dinosaur Mountain, gold panning
fun, as well as the newest installation – a Paleo Dig Pit, and also
the sobering territorial jail cells with their three-to-a-cell, iron
bunk beds. Prisoners were given no blankets or pillows and, of course,
no heating or air conditioning. Hard to even imagine.  azmnh.org

The boys also had a blast at jumpstreet, an indoor trampoline park
with over 10,000 square feet of trampoline space challenging kids of
all ages. Many of the trampolines are built with long, bowling-alley
type lanes. There’s a 20-foot inflatable crocodile for little kids and
two huge trampoline dodge ball courts, as well as the fun of bounding
into – and then climbing out of — a huge foam pit filled with big,
square, blocks of foam. For a break from the bounding and bouncing,
there’s a popular mechanical bull ride to further test balancing
skills. Watching Brett ride, we wondered if he might even want to
pursue the sport as a living. Just kidding. This can be pretty rough
stuff.

All things considered, Chandler’s jumpstreet is a blast where
participants are invited to literally “bounce off the walls.”
gotjump.com

                                        �
If fascinating farm happenings are your thing, include, as we did, the
Superstition Farms Dairy Tour with its “farm to fork” experiences of
daily family life in a huge “agri-tourist” environment. Set within
Mesa’s city limits, this farm provides an informative half-hour talk
followed by another half-hour or so narrated wagon tour that meanders
among hundreds of contented cows. Terms and information common to
farmers and ranchers provide an education to those of us less
familiar. To top off the tour, there’s an excellent up close and
personal petting zoo and some tasty “udder delights” homemade ice
cream.  superstitionfarmtours.com

The other more upscale “farm experience” is Mesa’s Agritopia, once a
lovely 1960’s homestead, now featuring the popular Joe’s Farm Grill
with its extensive menu utilizing quality ingredients, many of which
are grown in the beautiful surrounding community and commercial
gardens. The grill serves up everything from date shakes to a dazzling
array of salads, burgers, pizza and colorful, prize-winning cupcake
specialties.  Come early; the lines can be long.  joesfarmgrill.com

Mesa, by the way, is Arizona’s third largest city and is dubbed the
nation’s largest suburb.

Meanwhile, Arizona’s Sea Life Aquarium, located in Tempe’s popular
Arizona Mills mall, features 36 display tanks with more than 5,000 sea
creatures. Kids love reaching underwater to hold star fish, as well as
seeing the sea horse display and walking through an ocean tunnel that
provides a 360-degree viewing experience of underwater life.  This is
a top-notch aquarium.  sealifeus.com

Tempe, of course, is home to Arizona State University, one of the
nation’s largest, and this lively, eclectic city is drawing more
tourists every year.

If you fly, a great way to top off your trip is a visit to the Phoenix
Zoo (PhxZoo), named by Child magazine as one of the top five zoos in
the nation for kids. Safari trains, a monkey village, cruising bikes,
paddle boats on the lake, and the fun of feeding giraffes are just
part of the many delights of this outstanding zoo. This is also a
great place to end a trip because of its close proximity to the Sky
Harbor Airport.  phoenixzoo.org

By the way, some of the other exceptional food choices on our trip included:

Monti’s La Casa Vieja in Tempe, serving pasta and steaks for nearly
sixty years in an historic building built in 1871. We also enjoyed
some excellent south-of-the-border fare at Serrano’s Mexican Food, as
well as a great breakfast at BLD’s (a delightful place for Breakfast,
Lunch & Dinner, what else?) in Chandler — and later in the day
dessert at Paletas Betty, a popular frozen treat on a stick that
originated in Michoacan, Mexico

We stayed at the conveniently located Hampton Inn & Suites at the
Chandler Fashion Center, just 20 minutes from the airport. The
property’s popular On-the-House hot breakfast buffet is a hallmark of
the Hampton.  phoenixchandlerfashioncentersuites.hamptoninn.com

Brett’s assessment of this hotel:  “The outdoor heated pool is great!”

Brett’s father, on a business trip, had been able to join us for the
first morning of our activities, so at the end of our stay, when we
asked what Brett what he liked best about our trip, we weren’t
surprised when he said, “Well. . . I think the horseback ride my dad
and I both got to go at Goldfield was probably right up at the top of
my list of favorite things.”

“And, if you had to choose just one super activity?” we asked.

“Had to be jumpstreet,” he enthusiastically replied.

Probing a little further, we asked: “And on a scale of one to ten, ten
being the most enjoyable trip you’ve ever taken with us?”

“I’d have to give SUNNY ARIZONA a BIG Number Ten,” said Brett.

And, from our grandparents’ perspective, we’d have to agree.

* * *

“SUNNY ARIZONA” CITY CONTACTS:

Apache Junction Chamber of Commerce: www.ApacheJunctionCOC.com
Chandler Office of Tourism: www.visitChandler.com
Mesa Visitors Bureau: www.visitmesa.com
Tempe Tourism Office:  www.tempetourism.som

Combined website for the above four cities:  www.visitsunnyaz.com

Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet
TICKETS ON SALE MARCH 9 at 9am
________________________________________
Joliet- Due to incredible demand, a second CAROL BURNETT date has been added.  Carol Burnett, award-winning actress and best-selling author, will appear in Laughter and Reflection with Carol Burnett: A Conversation with Carol Where the Audience Asks the Questions at the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet on Wednesday, May 9th at 8 PM.  Tickets for this show go on sale Friday, March 9th at 9am ranging in price from $39.50 to $125.00.  Tickets are available at the Rialto box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com, Rialtosquare.com, or charge at 815-726-6600 and 800-982-2787.  A limited number of tickets also remain for the Tuesday, May 8th show, which is on sale now. The Rialto Square Theatre is located at 102 North Chicago Street in Joliet, IL.
If there is one thing Carol Burnett can do better than anyone else, it is talk at length, impromptu, before a live audience. Laughter and Reflection, Burnett’s off-the-cuff banter, is a format that grew out of the question-and-answer sessions she shared with her studio audience on each episode of The Carol Burnett Show. This is a rare opportunity to talk to Ms. Burnett in the same enjoyable and intimate audience-interactive format. Come with your questions and share in the fun with one of the country’s most loved and respected performers.
Carol Burnett is widely recognized by the public and her peers for her work on stage and screen, most notably The Carol Burnett Show, which ran for 11 years and garnered 25 Emmy Awards.  Carol has also penned two New York Times Bestsellers, This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection and her autobiography, One More Time. She is a Kennedy Center Honoree, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a Grammy nominee and Peabody Award winner.  In addition to her work in television, she appeared on Broadway, originating the role of “Princess Winifred” in Once Upon a Mattress and starring in Moon Over Buffalo, Fade Out/Fade In and Putting It Together.  In recent years, Carol has been seen in television on glee and her Emmy nominated performance on Law and Order: SVU.  She can also be heard alongside Amy Poehler in the new Disney animation adventure The Secret World of Arrietty.

*Brought to you by the Rialto Square Theatre*

The Official Blues Brothers Revue

March 5 at the Rialto Theatre in Joliet, IL

Hometown Concert to Commemorate 30th Anniversary of the Passing of John “Joliet Jake” Belushi

Featuring Very Special Guests – Paul Shaffer, Tom “Bones” Malone,

“Blue” Lou Marini, Matt “Guitar” Murphy, Otis Day (Animal House) and

Father “Guido” Sarducci Greeting Guests on the Blue Carpet Pre-Show

Facebook’s 800 Million+ Users Can Access Event via Milyoni’s Social Live Technology

Joliet, IL: Dan Aykroyd and Judith Belushi have announced a special star-studded performance of The Official Blues Brothers Revue to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the passing of John Belushi a/k/a “Joliet Jake”. Set for March 5th at the Rialto Theatre in the fabled hometown of the iconic Blues Brothers, the concert will feature guest stars (and original Blues Brothers Band members) Paul Shaffer, Tom “Bones” Malone, “Blue” Lou Marini, and Matt “Guitar” Murphy as well as Otis Day from Animal House. SNL’s legendary Father Guido Sarducci will serve as official VIP greeter for the pre-show Blue Carpet.

The Official Blues Brothers Revue, starring Wayne Catania and Kieron Lafferty as Jake and Elwood, has been playing to sell-out crowds worldwide and has a full roster of tour dates planned for the coming year. Produced by Dan Aykroyd and Judy Belushi, the revue combines the humor and hit songs from the original Blues Brothers concert experience, paying homage to Chicago’s rich tradition of blues, gospel and soul music – all performed with the passion and precision of the original Blues Brothers Band. Complete ticket information below.

The reach of this special one-night-only concert event will extend far beyond the theater in Joliet. In addition to the concert itself, a live webcast will be available for Facebook’s 800 million-plus fans worldwide. Using Milyoni’s Social Live technology, fans worldwide can share the unique social experience as they engage with one another during the live event. Viewers can chat with friends, comment at specific points during the broadcast and invite others to watch the event.

Milyoni’s Social Live broadcast will be available on the Animal House and Blues Brothers fan pages and will be available for $5.00 via Facebook Credits, PayPal or credit card. Fans can RSVP and prepay starting today at https://apps.facebook.com/blues-brothers-revue/

The event will also be simulcast to viewing parties at most House of Blues locations around the country using Social Live. Dan and Judy’s profits from the March 5th webcast will be donated to International House of Blues Foundation® ( http://www.ihobf.org/ ) in the memory of John Belushi. In the works are subsequent live DVD and CD releases.

The March 5th anniversary concert by the Official Blues Brothers Revue also signals the return of Jake and Elwood Blues as a vibrant and vital brand spanning a wide range of properties and platforms, spearheaded by Panacea Entertainment’s Eric Gardner on behalf of Dan Aykroyd and Judy Belushi. Initiatives on multiple fronts will be announced in the next couple of weeks.

The Blues Brothers were created by Aykroyd and John Belushi in the late 1970s and first appeared before a national audience as musical guest on Saturday Night Live. With initial musical guidance by Paul Shaffer (for the past 30 years musical director and sidekick on Late Show with David Letterman), the Blues Brothers evolved rapidly into a worldwide phenomenon encompassing touring, multi-platinum record albums, merchandising, and, ultimately, a timeless 1980 feature film directed by John Landis.

The Official Blues Brothers Revue March 5 at 8pmThe Rialto Square Theater15 East Van Buren Street, Joliet, Il 60432 Tickets: $60, $50, $40 and information at www.rialtosquare.com  

About Milyoni

Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Milyoni, Inc. is the leader in social entertainment. The company’s technology provides entertainment companies with a way to connect and engage with Facebook fans, and turn them into customers. Whether it’s watching a live concert, movie or sporting event or shopping your favorite brands, Milyoni enables companies to monetize fans pages through a unique level of engagement and a shared, social experience. Milyoni’s services reach over 150 million fans from industry leading customers, including Universal Pictures, Lionsgate, Paramount Studios, Big Air Studios, Austin City Limits Live, Turner Broadcasting, University of Oklahoma and The NBA to bring a variety of digital content and physical goods to fans on Facebook. For more information, visit www.milyoni.com.

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Presented by Rialto Square Theatre and WRXQ

            Sometimes, it can be very uncomfortable to leave the house and be transported to a facility when x-rays or other tests are needed.  Wouldn’t it be convenient to have these tests conducted right in the comfort of your own living space?  Touhy Diagnostic At Home provides portable x-ray, ultrasound and cardiovascular studies around the clock, seven days a week.  The staff of certified technicians is prompt, reliable and careful, committed to safely serving patients in nursing homes and their own homes.  Results are provided quickly, to ensure diagnosis and treatment in a timely manner.

            Touhy Diagnostic is a complete, modern, portable x-ray company that uses leading edge, sophisticated technology.  X-ray procedures include chest, skull, spine/pelvis; all areas of the skeletal system.  Ultrasounds and cardiovascular studies (Doppler, EKG, etc.) are also offered.  Available at all hours, you can call Touhy Diagnotic or fax a request with a doctor’s prescription and they will take care of the rest. 

            For information, contact Touhy Diagnostic At Home, 1293 Rand Rd., Des Plaines, at (phone) 847-803-1111, (fax) 847-803-1114.

Innovations that change the world happen. People who are educated and informed about those innovations can position themselves to make money and do things not previously possible. Innovations create opportunity. Those that learn about them first are in the best positions to profit from them.

A forward thinking company emerged to take on a big mission. They analyzed personal, national and world problems looking for answers. They assembled an all star management team, each respected  leaders in their own areas of specialty who have developed a completely new kind of business model. APROVEN, NO INVESTEMENT, NO RISK home based business to solve the problems we are facing where everyone wins and no one loses.

Now is your chance to get educated on the solutions that have been created and how you as an individual be on the inside track.Come out and attend a no cost, no obligation educational workshop. You will leave with a high level education, the tools and to research material to help you understand what the opportunity is,how you can take advantage of the biggest transfer of wealth this country has ever seen and how you can profit from it.

Timing is everything in life. Take the time to be the first to be fully educated on the next big thing that will change our world and how you can profit from it!!

Steve Shyman from Wilsave, Inc.can be reached at 206-279-3905. He will be conducting these educational workshops. These are not  sales seminars. Nothing will be sold.

BETHANY RETIREMENT COMMUNITY – February 25^th 1:00 pm. – 3:30 pm.

FEATURED MS. BERYL MALLINSON AT ART SHOW!

Bethany Retirement Community, 4950 N. Ashland Avenue in Chicago held an OPEN HOUSE & RESIDENT ART SHOW on Saturday, February 25^th from 1:00 pm. – 3:30 p.m.  Bethany Retirement offers residents three FREE Art Classes weekly.  These classes are included in the monthly rent rates.

Meet Ms. Beryl Mallinson, 93 yrs. Old!  She has lived at the Bethany Retirement Community for nine years.  Beryl took advantage of the free “Art Classes” given at the retirement community.  Julie Molter has been the art teacher at Bethany for the last fourteen years.  She teaches residents painting and drawing three times weekly.

Ms. Mallinson started taking the classes “almost from the beginning.  Since February, 2003! “She continues, “I said to myself, “I can’t draw”.  The next thing you knew Julie put a paper and pencil in my hand and I started drawing.  I never painted before until I came here.  I tried Art in high school but I dropped out of the class.”

Ms. Mallinson says she loves Bethany Retirement Community because it feels very “homey” and the people are great;   especially Julie, the Art Teacher and the rest of the residents who participate in the art class.

Ms. Mallinson’s favorite pieces she painted are of “Mickey & Minnie”.

Beryl Mallinson’s favorite piece and many more of her paintings were on display at Bethany Retirement Community and will continue to be on display until April 6, 2012! 

The Art Show consisted of over 150 works created by current residents.  There were appetizers, live entertainment and tours of the community!  The best thing about it…everything was FREE!  Many local residents attended, and some for the first time.  Attendees boasted about the event and commented on the great live entertainment, the newly updated apartments and the affordability!

If you are interested in seeing Bethany Retirement Community please contact Annette at the number listed below.

BETHANY RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

4950 N. Ashland Ave.

Chicago, IL  60640

Call: 773-293-5563 for more information on availability & pricing!

As folks in our society age, it is clear that most want to stay in their current homes.  Accomodations are made so people can “age in place” and keep the independence that is so important for quality of life.  An affordable accomodation offered by ReSurface Pros is called Safeway Step.  In order to reduce the possibility of potentially dangerous falls, an existing bathtub is converted into a step-in shower without the expense of removing the tub.  Slips and falls can force people into an assisted living facilities which can be expensive and completely change their quality of life.  Making the bathroom safer can be a real life saver.

Jim and Peggy LeMieux, owners of ReSurface Pros, went to Cincinatti, Ohio to become certified installers of Safeway Step.  The Safeway Step and Safeway Tub Door are products designed to provide individuals easier accessibility into the bathtub area.  People  with handicaps, arthritis, loss of mobility or  a debilitating injury can have access to their bathtubs without having to climb over a bathtub ledge, lowering their chances of injury while showering.

Installation includes cutting a section of the existing tub then custom fitting the resulting opening with the Safeway Step.  This works on fiberglass, steel, and even cast-iron tubs.  Installation can typically be completed in less than half a day.

So, for less than $1,000 people can feel safe staying in their own homes.  What a gift for a loved one!  For more information call ReSurface Pros at 877-TILE.TUB, (815) 756-2565 or visit www.resurfacepros.com.

Arlington Heights, Ill., February 17, 2012 – Raise your glass to a good cause at the Metropolis Beer & Wine Tasting March 4, 2012.
Share a fun evening out while supporting Metropolis’ School of the Performing Arts and its efforts to bring the arts into the community. Sample over 40 different wines and 20 different beers and enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres at this relaxed, social night out. Members of the School’s faculty will be at the event, mingling and sharing stories of their experiences with Metropolis. Plus, enter the raffle for a chance to win a free class at Metropolis’ School. The event will held in the beautiful showroom at Arlington Nissan.

The Metropolis Beer & Wine Tasting is Sunday, March 4, 2012 at 6 P.M. at Arlington Nissan, located at 1100 W. Dundee Road in Arlington Heights. Tickets are $45 per person and include wine and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are available online at www.MetropolisArts.com or by calling the Box Office at 847.577.2121.
This special event is proudly brought to you by Northwest Community Healthcare; Drost, Kivlahan, McMahon & O’Connor, LLC; James J. Bertucci, CFP, AXA Advisors; Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC; Dr. Joe Favia; and Arlington Nissan.
Ticket sales alone do not cover the costs of operating a thriving performing arts centre. Metropolis special events, like the Beer & Wine Tasting, raise funds to help keep ticket prices affordable and tuition costs low in the performing arts school. Funds from these special events also help Metropolis bring the arts into the community through our Outreach programs.

Metropolis is located in the heart of Chicago’s northwest suburbs in downtown Arlington Heights at the intersection of Campbell and Vail Ave at 111 W. Campbell Street. Street parking is available. Free parking is available in the public garage behind the theater. For more information about Metropolis and a complete 2010/2011 performance schedule, go to MetropolisArts.com or call the Box Office at 847.577. 2121. For news and updates about the School of the Performing Arts, visit their blog at www.metropolisarts.com/sopanew　

CHICAGO, IL (Feb. 21, 2012) – In a newly released hospital quality report, Saint Joseph Hospital ranks among the top 5 percent of U.S. hospitals for emergency medicine – earning HealthGrades’ first-time Emergency Medicine Excellence Award.

The HealthGrades Emergency Medicine in American Hospitals report identified the top-performing hospitals in the area of emergency care. Saint Joseph Hospital is one of only six hospitals in Chicago, 20 in Illinois and 263 nationwide to receive this recognition.

HealthGrades, an independent healthcare ratings company, analyzed mortality data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for virtually every hospital in the country. The findings are based on an analysis of more than 7 million Medicare patient records from 2008 to 2010. HealthGrades analyzed patients admitted to the hospital through the Emergency Department (ED) for the following 12 diagnoses:
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• Bowel obstruction
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Diabetic acidosis and coma (life-threatening complication)
• Gastrointestinal bleed
• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Pancreatitis
• Pneumonia
• Pulmonary embolism
• Respiratory failure
• Sepsis (life-threatening blood disorder)
• Stroke
The report included only those patients admitted to the hospital from the ED for further medical treatment, representing the full continuum of a patient’s care. Those hospitals with the lowest mortality rates performing in the top 5 percent in the nation received the award.
“This recognition shows that patients admitted through our Emergency Department receive the highest level of care – which can mean the difference between life and death,” said Roberta Luskin-Hawk, M.D., executive vice president and CEO, Saint Joseph Hospital. “Our advanced
technology and outstanding emergency medicine team are the reasons why we rank in the top 5 percent. Patients can count on the best emergency care possible at Saint Joseph.”
Saint Joseph Hospital is an accredited chest pain center and certified stroke center. The hospital’s ED will be undergoing a renovation and expansion. A completion date is anticipated in 2012.

On key findings in this new study show Medicare patients treated at hospitals in the top 5 percent had a 41.52-percent lower risk of death compared to patients treated at other hospitals. Click here to read the report/methodology.

In related news, Saint Joseph Hospital recently ranked among the top 5 percent of U.S. hospitals for clinical performance – earning HealthGrades’ 2012 Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence Award™. Saint Joseph is only one of four hospitals in Chicago, 20 in Illinois and 263 nationwide to earn this distinction.

The 10th annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality and Clinical Excellence study was released in January. The study objectively identified those hospitals with the best overall clinical performance across 26 medical diagnoses and procedures – from stroke care to bypass surgery to hip replacement. Data was evaluated at the nearly 5,000 nonfederal hospitals in the country. Each year, HealthGrades, an independent healthcare rating company, conducts the study to help consumers compare and evaluate hospital performance.

“This recognition is an outstanding achievement for Saint Joseph Hospital and our dedicated health care team,” Dr. Luskin-Hawk said. “We are honored to be among the top-performing hospitals in the nation. The award shows our commitment to delivering exceptional care to our patients – 365 days a year.”

The study found inpatients were 30 percent less likely to die and 1.9 percent less likely to suffer from in-hospital complications at a hospital ranking in the top 5 percent in the nation compared to other facilities. Data is risk-adjusted so that hospitals treating higher volumes of sicker patients could be compared equally with other hospitals.

HealthGrades’ analysis is based on about 40 million Medicare discharges for the years 2008, 2009 and 2010. Using these top-performing hospitals as a benchmark in this year’s study, HealthGrades quantifies the impact of differences in hospital quality in terms of lives lost and unexpected complications.

Click here to read the full study/methodology or visit the HealthGrades website.

About Saint Joseph Hospital
Saint Joseph Hospital is a nationally ranked, award-winning teaching hospital serving Chicago’s lake shore communities. In 2012, the hospital ranked among the top 5 percent in the nation for overall clinical quality and received HealthGrades’ Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence™. It is home to many world-renowned physicians and advanced medical technologies. For more information, visit sjh.reshealth.org.

Provena Health – Resurrection Health Care – Now Joined As Presence Health
Presence Health is a family of Catholic, not-for profit, healthcare services providing advanced medical care and exceptional service with compassion and hope. With locations in Chicago and its collar counties, as well as in East-Central Illinois, it is the largest Catholic health provider in Illinois, encompassing 12 hospitals, 29 long term care and senior residential facilities ,numerous outpatient services, clinics, home health services, hospice, private duty, and comprehensive Behavioral Health services. The new ministry is sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary,the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and the Sisters of the Resurrection. Visit www.provenaresurrection.org to learn more.