The Latest News

Lights, Camera, Bowl to Raise Funds for Pediatric Therapy

March 18, 2025 – This year's popular FHN Foundation Striking Success bowling event invites participants to dress for the movies with the theme Lights, Camera, Bowl!

The event will begin with check-in at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 1, at 4 Seasons Bowling Center, 1100 W. Galena Avenue, Freeport. (Bowling will begin at 6 p.m.) Bowlers must register in advance at the link below, and can opt to fundraise to cover entry fees and win prizes.

Teams of up to 6 bowlers are invited to participate. Registration is $300 per team ($50 per player) through Thursday, April 17. After that, registration fees increase to $330/$60.

Participants can download a donation sheet to raise funds for the event on the registration page, www.fhn.org/strikingsuccess. Additional incentives are available for those who raise higher donation amounts. Individuals can sign up, as well, and will be matched with others to make a team.

All proceeds raised will support renovations to the FHN Memorial Hospital pediatric therapy center, including two private rooms, new furniture and equipment, and more storage!

To register, download a pledge form, make a donation, or for more information, visit www.fhn.org/strikingsuccess or contact the FHN Foundation at 815-599-6900 or cseal@fhn.org.

FHN Wound Center Honored for Patient Satisfaction Achievement

March 10, 2025 – The Center for Wound Healing at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport has earned RestorixHealth's Excellence in Patient Satisfaction Award.

The award recognizes wound centers that have demonstrated exceptional success by meeting or exceeding a national patient satisfaction benchmark of 96 percent.

"The Center for Wound Healing at FHN Memorial Hospital is proud to be recognized for its dedication to patient satisfaction," said Medical Director Rafael Castro, MD, FACS, WCC. "We are proud to receive this award that recognizes the hard work and dedication of our team."

The Center for Wound Healing, located in the FHN Specialty Care - Stephenson Street clinic at 1036 W. Stephenson Street in Freeport, offers state-of-the-art wound care treatments from advanced products and dressings to hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOt) to help patients dealing with chronic wounds. The Wound Center's team of multidisciplinary specialists includes surgeons and podiatrists.

No referrals are needed for care at the Center for Wound Healing at FHN Memorial Hospital. For more information on the Center and the services available there, visit www.fhn.org/woundcare or call the Center at 815-599-7410.

Two FHN Nurses Receive Ferguson ADN Scholarships

February 17, 2025 – Kiley Weltzin and Paige Gallentine are the recipients of the 2024 Mildred F. Ferguson Nursing Scholarship.

The scholarship was endowed in 2003 by Ferguson's daughter, Nancy Ferguson Seeley, in honor of her mother's contributions during her decades of nursing service to the people of Freeport. Recipients receive full tuition as they pursue an associate's degree in nursing.

Including Weltzin and Gallentine, 53 FHN team members have received scholarships since 2003. One of the original scholarship recipients still serves as a nursing supervisor at FHN.

Applications from FHN team members interested in advancing their nursing career are accepted each spring.

For more information on nursing careers at FHN, visit fhn.org/careers.

FHN Offering Two $134 Heart Month Specials

February 4, 2025 – Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, and early diagnosis is key in fighting the disease. FHN is celebrating American Heart Month in February with special cash pricing on two heart health tests.

Call 815-599-6860 by Friday, Feb. 28 to schedule a Standard Walking Treadmill Stress Test or Calcium Scoring CT Heart Scan and pay just $134 for the test.

“The treadmill stress test is a screening test for determining a patient's heart health when they are able to walk and have no history of cardiac disease,” said FHN Director of Imaging and Cardiac Services Katie Alvarado, MBA, RT(R)(N), CNMT. “The patient walks on a treadmill while a specially trained registered nurse monitors how his or her heart is working through an electrocardiogram. This test helps determine your exercise capacity and the circulation to the heart, which is helpful in determining the cause of unexplained fatigue, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeats during exercise or existing or borderline high blood pressure.”

“Another beneficial screening test that FHN offers is a CT scan to detect plaque in the arteries,” Alvarado said. “The test is non-invasive and is used to predict the probability of future heart problems. Like the treadmill test, it doesn't take long to complete.”

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 815-599-6860. Tests must be scheduled by Friday, Feb. 28 and performed by Friday, May 30, 2025 to qualify for the special rate.

These tests do not replace consultations with your healthcare provider, and are not appropriate for persons with a history of heart trouble. If you do not have a primary healthcare provider, FHN will work with you to determine how to handle your test results when they are communicated to you. Payment for the tests is due (cash, checks and credit cards accepted) at the time of service.

FHN Awards Four Healthcare Career Scholarships

January 15, 2025 – Four area students have been awarded scholarships to help cover the cost of healthcare education. Again this year, an outstanding group of students submitted applications for the scholarships.

Each student wrote an essay about their career path along with strengths and personal goals to support the healthcare needs of FHN's service area, and the top candidates were selected for face-to-face interviews.

After the interviews, three Healthcare Career Scholarship applicants and one Diversity Healthcare Career Scholarship applicant were chosen to each receive a $1,000 scholarship. All of FHN's scholarships are funded through donations to the FHN Foundation.

The 2024 Healthcare Career Scholarship winners are:

Emily Allison from Ridott, who is pursuing a Physical Therapist Assistant degree at Highland Community College in Freeport with plans to transfer to Blackhawk Technical College or Elgin Community College to finish her degree.

Abbey Hammer from Shannon, who is pursuing a Nursing degree at Highland Community College in Freeport.

Hayley Smith from Warren, who is pursuing a Doctorate of Pharmacy degree at UW-Madison in Madison, Wis.

The 2024 Diversity Healthcare Career Scholarship winner is Bintou Timbiné of Rockford, who is pursuing a Doctorate of Pharmacy degree at the University of Illinois-Chicago, Rockford Campus.

FHN's Get Fit Program is Back - and FREE - for 2025

January 2, 2025 – FHN's popular wellness program is back to help participants work toward their best health. Get Fit 2025 is heavy on tips, videos, and recipes to help participants build a healthy lifestyle for years to come!

Get Fit 2025 is a FREE 12-week online program beginning and ending with in-person screenings - and participants can join as an individual or as part of a 4-person team.

From Jan. 19 through April 13, participants will receive special Get Fit 2025 newsletters with healthy lifestyle information including exercise tips and healthy recipes. They also can take advantage of special offers from local fitness partners and participate in fun contests, and of course, win great prizes!

Participants must attend both an initial and ending screening to be eligible for this year's major prizes. The free program signup includes the chance to schedule an appointment for a kick-off screening from 3 - 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14 and from 8 - 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 18 at FHN Family Healthcare Center - Burchard Hills in Freeport.

Signup for FHN's Get Fit 2025 is open now at www.fhn.org/getfit.