Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation is a community-based, Federally Qualified
Health Center (FQHC) network, with nearly 40 health centers located in seven counties
in Southern Illinois. As an FQHC, Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation serves
predominately low income or medically underserved populations throughout southern
Illinois.
SIHF opened its doors in 1985 as a small healthcare facility on Bond Avenue in Centreville,
IL with one doctor, one nurse, and a clinic director at a time when many physicians
were leaving southern Illinois. Today, SIHF employs more than 1,500 people, including
over 140 medical providers as well as a controlled affiliate hospital in Centreville,
Illinois.
For more than 25 years SIHF’s mission has remained grounded in creating access for
healthcare by delivering primary care, dental, behavioral, and support services
to those in most need of medical care.
- 1985 - SIHF opened
SIHF began services as a new community based health care center in a shared facility
located at 6010 Bond Avenue in Centerville, Illinois.
- 1990 - SIHF partners with East Side Health District Kellogg
Grant
In 1990 East Side Health District (ESHD) received a three year Kellogg Foundation
grant to develop patient tracking and community empowerment. SIHF also partnered
with ESHD by providing medical services while ESHD provided health education and
other services to SIHF.
- 1992 - SIHF opens two new centers
SIHF opened two new centers. The first at 2001 State Street Center in East St. Louis
and a second center in Brooklyn, Illinois
- 1993 – First Quick Care opens & Touchette Regional Hospital
becomes controlled affiliate
The first "Quick Care" was opened in 1993 at the State Street location to provide
after hours, walk-in services. Also, the SIHF Board worked with community leaders
to establish a new organization and Board that transitioned Centreville Township
Hospital into a not-for-profit named Touchette Regional Hospital as a controlled
affiliate of Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation.
- 1994 – More Quick Cares added and Mother & Child Center
opens
A newly constructed Mother and Child Center with 36 exam rooms was opened in October
of 1994 at 6000 Bond Avenue in Centreville. Due to the overwhelming community response,
two additional "Quick Cares" were added to the system; one in the medical office
wing of Touchette Regional Hospital and the other in the new Mother and Child Center.
- 1995 - SIHF “Models that Work” recipient &
opens two more health centers
SIHF was the recipient of the “Models that Work” award through the U.S.
Public Health Department, Bureau of Primary Care. It was awarded to the nation’s
best systems that provide care to the medically underserved. Also, Washington Park
Health Center and the first school based center (East St. Louis Senior High School)
were opened in collaboration with East Side Health District.
- 1996 - SIHF receives Healthy Start and 2nd W.K.
Kellogg grant
During 1996, SIHF was awarded a second W.K. Kellogg grant to address Medicaid Managed
Care and a Federal Healthy Start grant to provide services to reduce infant mortality.
- 1997 – SIHF expands services and opens in Madison County
In June, SIHF opened Alton Health Center in order to expand its services to Madison
County. Another health center was opened in East St. Louis to bring pediatrics and
OB/GYN services to the local community and a second school based health center was
opened at Cahokia High School.
- 1998 - Receive Foster McGraw & Premier Cares Award
SIHF was a finalist for the Foster G. McGaw Award from the American Hospital Association
and Baxter Foundation for the organizations work with the community. The system
was also a finalist in the Premier Cares Award sponsored by Premier, Inc. for improving
health outcomes in the community by reducing infant mortality, reducing low birth
weights, and increasing the number of children under the age of 2 in receiving immunizations.
- 1999- Awarded Ryan White Grant & Open Center in Bethalto
SIHF became a Ryan White Title III grantee in 1999 to provide primary care and support
services to individuals and families impacted by HIV. SIHF also opened a health
center in Bethalto in response to a local community need.
- 2000 - Open 1st rural center (Vandalia)
In August of 2000, SIHF expanded its reach to include the rural community of Vandalia
with the opening of the Vandalia Healthcare Center.
- 2001 – Expanding rural services (Salem)
In coordination with Salem Township Hospital, SIHF opened the Salem Medical Center
in August of 2001.
- 2002 – Centers open in Belleville and Granite City
In 2002, SIHF opened its first locations in the Belleville and Granite City areas.
Services were also expanded in Salem to include dental.
- 2003 - Expanding in Alton
In 2003, SIHF expanded in Alton by opening the Alton Women's Health Center in coordination
with Alton Memorial Hospital. This center is the only facility to offer services
exclusively to women.
- 2004 – Expands reach in St. Clair County & adds Psychiatry
to its list of services
SIHF continued to grow in 2004 by adding new sites in Belleville, East St. Louis,
and Fairmont City. Belleville Pediatric and Adolescent Center opened in the Copper
Bend area with Pediatrics as its focus and partnered with the City of Fairmont to
open Fairmont City Health Center. In order to create access for behavioral health
patients, SIHF added psychiatry to its list of services.
- 2005 - Mobile Medical Unit, Cahokia location, and dental services
added
SIHF’s Mobile Health Unit began operations as a way to serve the migrant and seasonal
farmworkers throughout Southern Illinois. SIHF also continued to expand services
by opening the Cahokia Health Center and adding dental services for Medicaid patients
at the Mother & Child Center.
- 2006 - Partner with St. Louis University & St. Elizabeth’s
for residency program (Belleville Family)
In March of 2006, SIHF opened the Belleville Family Health Center as a joint facility
with St. Louis University and St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. The location serves as a
clinic site for a Family Medicine residency with Saint Louis University and St.
Elizabeth's Hospital in Belleville.
- 2007 - Expansion of current Health Centers and new services
added
In 2007, expansions took place at the Bethalto and Windsor Health Centers. Adult
medicine and dental services were added to Bethalto and psychiatry, women’s health,
and pediatrics to Windsor. Also, a new program was added to the Mobile Medical Unit
to provide services to the Homeless in Madison and St. Clair Counties.
- 2008 - Open 6 new centers and expand two centers
SIHF had a historical year in 2008 with an unprecedented growth in size and scope.
Access to care was expanded across Southern Illinois with the opening of six new
health centers located in Madison, Greenup, Granite City, Effingham, Alton, and
East St. Louis. Expansions also occurred with the addition of behavioral health
services to the Bethalto Health Center and the addition of five exams rooms at the
Belleville Family Health Center.
- 2009 - Opening of 3 new centers and selection of REC
In 2009, SIHF opened three new health centers which included Bunker Hill Health
Center (Macoupin County), Primetime Belleville, and Central Collinsville Health
Center. As healthcare began to shift to electronic health records, SIHF was chosen
to be the lead agency to facilitate the design of the Region 4 Medical Trading Area’s
Health Information Exchange (HIE).
- 2010 – Celebrating 25 years
In 2010, SIHF celebrated its 25th Anniversary by holding celebrations
at each health center to thank staff and a dinner to thank its supporters and partners.
This year was also marked with expansions and renovations to many of the centers.
Expansions began at Salem Medical Center and renovation started at West Belleville
and Belleville Pediatric & Adolescent Health Centers. SIHF was also awarded a grant
for the construction of the new 32,000 square foot, Koch Health Center and the expansion
of the State Street Health Center.
- 2011 – Grand Openings
Opened Children’s Medical Center and the newly expanded Salem Medical Center.
Broke ground on additions at State Street Center and Koch Health Center
- 2012 – Expanding Services
Expanded services with the openings of Mattoon Medical Center, Weber Medical Clinic,
and the newly constructed McKinley Health Center