ELMHURST HOSPITAL One of the best in the nation

BY LARRY ATSEFF | PHOTOS BY VICTOR HILITISKI

In the mid-2000s, decision-makers for Elmhurst Hospital made two critical decisions. One: Since they were landlocked in downtown Elmhurst, which prevented them from growing, they would have to move to another Elmhurst location. Two: they would take the opportunity to redefine how the new hospital would treat patients and their families. They outlined these primary goals: clinical quality, safety, market growth, strong financial performance, and, above all, the highest patient satisfaction by adopting per- son-centered care at the new hospital.

Groundbreaking occurred in May 2008, and the current hospital at 155 E. Brush Hill Road in Elmhurst opened in June 2011 after an expenditure of $450 million.

In 2000, Doctor Kimberly Darey, President of Elmhurst Hospital, also made some critical decisions.

After receiving a degree in chemistry and working as a pharmacist, she pivoted (as she calls it) in 2004 to become an obstetrician/gynecologist because she felt her true calling was working directly with people to help them. She started in that role at Elmhurst Hospital in 2010, and she was just named President in February.

We recently spent some time with Dr. Darey as she took Hinsdale Magazine Group Publisher Scott Jonlich and Senior Editor Larry Atseff on a tour of the most tranquil yet state-of-the-art hospital one can ever experience.

She explained while we walked down

“Main Street”- the quarter-mile hallway on the main floor, “I took after my mom, who was a NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) nurse because I saw how hard she worked, yet how satisfying it was to her to really make a difference in people’s lives. I took after my dad, who told me always to be kind to people and that every successful relationship is one where everyone learns to give and take.”

A demonstration of Dr. Darey’s person-centered approach came just as we started our tour. She was answering a question when out of the corner of her eye; she saw a patient, some 50 feet away, who looked a little befuddled.

Dr. Darey excused herself, walked over to the patient, and asked how she could help. Thirty seconds later, the patient’s question was answered, and she went on her way, and Dr. Darey returned to our walk and interview.

We didn’t see or smell a hospital everywhere we looked on our tour, with people rushing with carts of linens or meals. Instead, we saw a quiet, beautiful setting that greets people who are under stress. It is designed to instantly give them a sense of calm relief that they will be in good hands. Even waterfalls in the east and west lobby entrances suggest a stable, peaceful environment.

The five-story structure, designed after

Prairie-style architecture, has 264 single-patient rooms. It offers a wealth of the latest medical services and equipment for inpatient and outpatient care. It has a state-of-the-art Cancer Center. The Emergency Department uses the latest in high-tech Emergency Services, such as electronic bridges with community EMS providers, so EKGs (electrocardiograms) can be done in the field and sent to the ER to initiate cardiac alerts sooner, activation of cardiac and stroke alerts from the field to expedite care, and use of ultrasound-guided IV insertions for difficult IV starts.

Doctors use the most advanced tech- nology and procedures to treat severely calcified arteries, chronic total occlusion, atrial fibrillation, pulmonary embolisms, and many other conditions. A level IIe Special Care Nursery offers private rooms for low birth weight and premature infants. Elmhurst Hospital is also affiliated with Elmhurst University in offering practical training for students preparing to become nurses. It also provides therapy dogs and their trainers to help comfort patients.

Significantly, at the outset of design and construction, Elmhurst worked with Planetree, an organization with a more than 40-year history of partner- ing with health providers to set standards that put the needs of patients first. In 2018, Elmhurst Hospital earned Planetree’s highest level of achievement: Gold Certification for Excellence In Person-Centered Care, becoming one of only 88 healthcare organizations worldwide, including 26 in the U.S., with Gold Certification.

Elmhurst has the only Planetree Gold Certification in Illinois. Planetree takes its name from the tree under which Hippocrates is said to have taught some of the first medical students in ancient Greece. The hospital’s primary decorative feature is a stylized Planetree leaf reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s designs.

In part, the certification reads, “At Elmhurst, person-centered healthcare prioritizes the active participation of the staff with patients and their families throughout the healthcare process with an emphasis on partnership, compassion, transparency, inclusion, and quality.”

That was exactly what the leaders envisioned when they planned for and built the current hospital.

Dr. Darey explains it this way, “This philosophy of patient care is woven into the fabric of every step we take in caring for our patients. This goes for every employee, every physician, and every volunteer that serves patients and their families.”

As we walked the building, we saw a typical single-patient room and how well it has been carefully thought out for patients and their families and the staff as they care for each patient. Rooms are equipped with a sofa-bed combination, a large flat-screen TV, and a full private bathroom. Rooms also have a section where hospital staff can work, separate from patients and guests.

We couldn’t help but admire the stained glass windows, decorative wood carvings, mosaics, and prairie-patterned light fixtures on the first floor. The walls are filled with photographs and art pieces. There is a milelong outdoor path for walking, several gardens, a flower store, a gift shop, a Starbucks coffee shop, and a cafeteria that serves a menu that is definitely not typical hospital fare. Naturally, there is also a spiritual center.

When we got back to Dr. Darey’s office, she said, “Yes, the entire building makes Elmhurst look and feel like a resort hotel, not a hospital. It truly helps to give patients a feeling of comfort, and serenity, as they are often under difficult circumstances.

The hospital has lavender rooms so medical staff can take a break when needed. Speaking of staff, Elmhurst, like other health facilities, is continually faced with finding enough qualified staff. To cope, they recently added MOXI, a full-fledged moving robot to handle routine duties such as point-topoint medication delivery and other supplies. In essence, MOXI frees nurses to spend more time with patients.

But it is a hospital with state-of-the-art services and equipment. When you combine all of that with a dedicated, talented staff, it is why we rank with the best in taking care of patients. We are all extremely proud of all of it.”

She concluded, “I see my job is to remind everyone to look beyond their specialty and to think of how each of us is in a big, beautiful boat. The more we do our jobs well and keep patient-focused, and the more we row this boat in unison, it is good for everybody.” ■

The Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Foundation raised $88,000 at Chef Fest, which was held for the first time since 2020 in February at the Drury Lane Theatre & Conference Center in Oakbrook Terrace. The event included a variety of signature menu items produced by chefs from 22 prominent local restaurants, bakeries and caterers who donate their time and talent. Proceeds from Chef Fest support future service enhancements to ensure Elmhurst Hospital maintains its commitment to delivering state-of-the-art healthcare to the community.

For more information, visit www.emhfoundation.org/events or call the EMH Foundation at (331) 221-0388. ■