Terry Bryce, chief administrative officer at Deaconess Illinois–Union County, told the Union County Board that the hospital completed a systemwide rollout of Epic electronic health records in 2024 and is planning a countywide health fair March 1 at the Shawnee Community Extension Center.

Bryce said Epic — which he called “a gold standard of electronic health records” — allows patients to sign up for MyChart, view records and streamlines record sharing with larger referral hospitals through Epic’s Care Everywhere program. He described the local portion of the Epic rollout as “about a $5,000,000 investment locally” and about $20,000,000 across the Deaconess Illinois system.

The update emphasized limits that come with the hospital’s critical access designation: the facility stabilizes emergency patients but often transfers those who need surgical specialties or inpatient services. Bryce described the hospital’s swing‑bed program as averaging about eight patients per day in 2024, and said that program supports physical, occupational and speech therapy and extended IV antibiotic courses closer to patients’ homes.

Bryce outlined additional community projects tied to the hospital’s community health needs assessment: a March 1 countywide health fair running 7:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. offering free screenings, diabetes education, cholesterol and glucose checks, balance testing, Narcan education and demonstrations and outreach by Shawnee Community College and Rural Health partners; a proposal to consolidate local food pantries into a centrally located pantry open multiple days per week (projected grant work over the next six months with a target for a project in place by the end of 2026); and work on nonemergency transport, including a wheelchair van procurement and the TransCare non‑emergency transport service established in 2024.

Bryce also discussed behavioral‑health needs: he said outpatient group therapy for people 65 and older runs three days per week and that emergency‑department behavioral health visits have continued to rise. Deaconess Illinois has committed to exploring an inpatient psychiatric facility for the region, a process Bryce said could take two to three years.

On infrastructure, Bryce said the hospital’s new helipad is built but “still not operational yet,” pending work and FAA clearance.

County commissioners expressed support for the hospital’s work and asked the hospital to return with future updates; commissioners noted the local hospital is a critical resource for Union County residents and emergency stabilization and transfers.Bryce (Chief Administrative Officer, Deaconess Illinois–Union County) — presentation and updates; Commissioners Harville, Pitts, Miller and Bierstadt — comments of support and questions.