Herrin Hospital celebrates their 100-year anniversary in 2014. The hospital was built in 1914. In 1918 Dr. J. T. Black purchased the hospital and renamed it Herrin Hospital. Herrin Hospital has been named Corporate Honoree for HerrinFesta Italiana – 2014.
The hospital has served thousands of patients through its long history through the turbulent times of the 1920’s of mine unrest and gangster battles, the Great Depression in the 1930’s and through the exciting and challenging times of the mid-20th Century to new opportunities and patient services of the 21st Century. The original brick hospital still stands on the corner of South 14th and East Harrison streets.
Dr. Leo Brown from Carbondale, along with Dr. J. W. Barrow, Dr. John Lewis and Dr. John Taylor who partnered to open The Carbondale Clinic before WW 11. Partnered to form a not-for- profit Southern Illinois Hospital Corporation after the war to purchase Herrin Hospital in 1946. SIH remains a not-for- profit integrated health care system and employs over 3,000 people system-wide.
The growing medical complex in the heart of Herrin which employees 900 people is part of Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH) comprised of five facilities, Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, Herrin Hospital, St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Murphysboro and CMA ( Center for Medical Arts), and SIMS (Southern Illinois Medical Services). Rex Budde is CEO of SIH. Herrin Hospital is served by 238 credentialed doctors in every field of medicine.
Herrin Hospital is a 114-bedacute inpatient and outpatient hospital. The hospital operates numerous specialized services including the first accredited Chest Pain Unit in southern Illinois, providing advance care for heart attack. The hospital also contains a newly expanded emergency department, and a cutting edge Orthopedic Joint Camp. Herrin Hospital is a centerpiece for economic growth and service to the Herrin area. The complex offers nationally acclaimed acute rehabilitation services through an affiliation between the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and SIH established in 1997 to bring quality rehabilitation services to area residents.
The Herrin Hospital Auxiliary founded more than 30 years ago is a volunteer arm of the hospital that supports projects and programs, provides volunteer services throughout the hospital and operates “The Gift Garden” for patients and their families. They have donated close to one million dollars since their inception to the hospital’
Through the efforts of employees, both past and present, in the hospital’s 100 year history, the work of doctors, nurses, administrators and staff members Herrin Hospital continue their goals of respect, collaboration, stewardship, accountability and quality. They look to the next 100 years of service to individuals and families in the region and offer their commitment to excellence in every area of service. Terence Farrell is current administrator.
Kathy Cerutti, Public Relations/ Physician Liaison/Administration, who joined Herrin Hospital in 1973, says, “I am honored and privileged to work at Herrin Hospital. I have seen its growth, shared my days with the finest employees anywhere and look forward to the future as we expand and offer more and more services to our patients and their families and our community.”
The hospital will be honored at the HerrinFesta Honoree banquet, Tuesday, May 20 at the Herrin Elks, ride in the Grand Festa Parade, May 24 and at events throughout the festival.