At Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, we have integrated the Planetree philosophy in everything we do. Elements in the Hospital’s design that bring the Planetree principles to life include private patient rooms that encourage interaction between patients, their caregivers and family.  We support the integration of your family into your care by offering sleeping accommodations, large family rooms, kitchens and Care Partner program.   Other elements of our care that support EMHC’s Planetree philosophy of a holistic approach to healing the mind, body and soul include:

• Open access to your own medical records.  We encourage our patients to review your medical record with your healthcare provider on a regular basis to reinforce understanding of your medical condition and treatment.
• Room service provides quality food and nutrition that is essential for good health, healing, and comfort.
• Healing arts, including art displays throughout the building and live music performances in the East Lobby provide a comfortable, more home-like environment.
• Balconies and gardens for you and your guests to connect with nature and fresh air.
• Friendly and compassionate staff that listens to your needs and treats you with respect and dignity.
• A Spiritual Care team with access to an interfaith chapel to support you and your family throughout your hospital stay.
• Wireless Internet access throughout the facility for you and your guest’s convenience to stay connected with family and friends and with your in room television, also provides entertainment and relaxation options.
• An individualized comprehensive education plan to help prepare you and your loved ones for discharge and your care at home.
• Specialized programs and services to support your care such as Animal Assisted Therapy, Guided Meditation, and Gentle Touch hand massages.

More than 60 specific criteria address components of a patient-centered healthcare experience, including patient-provider interactions, access to information, family involvement, the physical environment, food and nutrition, spirituality, arts and entertainment, and integrative therapies.  In addition, the criteria focus on how the healthcare system is supporting its staff, opportunities for staff, patients and families to have a voice in the way care is delivered, and the ways that Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare is reaching beyond its walls to care for its community.

Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare designees will be presented with the official Planetree award during the Planetree Annual Conference Award Ceremony that takes place on Oct. 3 in Palm Desert, Calif.

W. Peter Daniels, President & CEO

Although the development of our new Main Campus is a significant achievement in our mission to provide the highest quality care to our patients, this facility is simply the roots of Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare (EMHC). Every day, EMHC continues to grow to better serve the surrounding communities. On August 22, we will be opening a brand new medical facility in Addison, which will feature immediate care, laboratory, X-Ray services. The Addison location will be home to many physician offices, who will continue to provide state-of-the-art care to the populous Addison community.

We continue to grow and enhance our technology here at EMHC. Through the use of our da Vinci Robotic Surgical System, fondly named SURgio, we have performed more than 100 minimally invasive surgical procedures. EMHC is the first hospital in DuPage County to perform single-site robotic surgery procedure.

At the end of August, we will break ground on our new Cancer Center that will be located at our Main Campus. The Cancer Center will provide a more convenient and positive experience for patients and their caregivers by combining medical oncology with an infusion center, radiation oncology and high-tech CyberKnife.

EMHC is deeply rooted in the Elmhurst community and we are excited to grow and provide even more care to our patients and their families in the years to come.

W. Peter Daniels, President & CEO