Here’s where you can find the services you need now that St. Elizabeth’s has moved

Since Jeff Chandler had surgery on his right wrist following a motorcycle crash in August, he has received physical therapy from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital services in downtown Belleville.

And he’ll continue to get the service in Belleville even though St. Elizabeth’s Hospital moved to a new hospital in O’Fallon on Nov. 4.

The physical therapy Chandler received and several other outpatient medical services are remaining in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital buildings in downtown Belleville.

“We’re still in the same location to still serve all of our folks that are in this area,” said Ashlee Sandstrom, a physical therapist for St. Elizabeth’s Outpatient Physical Therapy/Work Conditioning clinic at 180 S. Third St., Suite 30.

Chandler, 48, on Thursday was given a heat treatment to help mobility in his right hand. A therapist put his hand in a device that has ground up corn husks that are heated to about 105 to 115 degrees for 15 minutes. Chandler said the material feels like sand.

“My fingers wouldn’t move at all,” is how Chandler described his right hand during the initial phases of his recovery. “Now they’re moving a lot better.” The Marissa-area resident hopes to return soon to his job as a sheet metal worker.

St. Elizabeth’s physical therapy services will continue to be offered at Copper Bend at 2810 Frank Scott Parkway West, Suite 824, in Belleville and at 739 N. Jefferson St. in Mascoutah.

St. Elizabeth’s also will offer laboratory and imaging services at 180 S. Third St. in Belleville, but those offices are not yet open.

“The need for outpatient services has steadily grown, as 80 percent of health care is delivered in an outpatient setting,” St. Elizabeth’s Hospital spokeswoman Kelly Barbeau said in a statement. “We strategically placed these outpatient services – lab, imaging and physical therapy for example – because of this trend to be accessible to the community.”

Barbeau also noted St. Elizabeth’s has a “longtime partnership” with SIHF Healthcare, formerly known as the Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation, and this co-operative effort will continue to serve metro-east residents.

Here are some highlights of two other clinics remaining in Belleville:

▪  SIHF Healthcare is a clinic in a renovated space at 180 S. Third St., Suite 104. The hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. It offers primary care by appointment. This clinic is in partnership with St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, St. Louis University School of Medicine and Scott Air Force Base for “underserved, uninsured and military communities.” Call 618-222-4701 for more information.

Charles Jefferson, 65, of Mascoutah had an appointment at the clinic on Thursday for ringing in his ears. He was glad to see the remodeled office at SIHF Healthcare and has received “excellent” service. But he said he was disappointed that a doctor he sees in Belleville for his diabetes was expected to move to O’Fallon.

▪  SIHF Healthcare Convenient Care Clinic, formerly known as PrimeTime, is a walk-in clinic and no appointment is necessary. It previously was located in the main hospital but it is now at 180 S. Third St., Suite 103. The hours are 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, pending provider availability. You can get same-day service for minor illnesses along with physicals for school or work. Call 618-222-4763 for more information.

“We’re still here, we’re just across the street,” said Candace Irby, the health center manager for SIHF Healthcare.

You can park across the street from the front entrance and directly behind the building.

“We went from four exam rooms to 16 exam rooms” at the two clinics, Irby said.

“It should decrease wait time and it should also allow us to have more available open appointments for our patients to be seen.”

This story was originally published November 10, 2017 at 9:34 AM with the headline "Here’s where you can find the services you need now that St. Elizabeth’s has moved."