Shop away this Friday, Feb. 3 and Saturday, Feb. 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the annualy Antique & Collectibles Sale. All proceeds will go to the hospital Advisory Board.

Silver Cross Hospital’s resale shop—the Encore Shop, will hold its annual Antique and Collectibles Sale Friday, Feb. 3 and Saturday, Feb. 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Some of the items available to purchase include Swarovski Waterlily candleholder, metal Tonka bulldozer and Radar jeep, Structo auto transporter truck, Horsman doll, 1930 Chevy hood ornament, rare plates, hand painted cups and saucers from Japan, photo book with metal pictures, and a 1934 Swit keychain.. Cash will only be accepted for purchases. All proceeds from the Antique Sale benefit Silver Cross Hospital, a not-for-profit health care provider.

The hospital’s Advisory Board operates the Encore Shop, which is located northwest of the hospital’s Keck Emergency Pavilion off Walnut Street in Joliet.  The Encore Shop is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and the first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donations are welcome.  For more information, call Volunteers Services at Silver Cross Hospital at (815) 300-7117. 

Over the last few years, the Advisory Board has donated over $250,000 to purchase beds for the Intensive Care Unit, laptop computers for Home Health nurses, dialysis equipment, surgery carts and instruments, and a new pick-up truck used to maintain the grounds of the hospital campus.  The Advisory Board completed a $56,000 pledge to fund the purchase the most advanced mammography diagnostic equipment. Then the Board selected to purchase the mammography processor to go with the diagnostic equipment. The group also recently completed a pledge of $150, 000 to fund X-ray equipment for the Emergency Department.  The group recently donated $75,000 to fund The Dralle Serenity Garden water feature at the Silver Cross Replacement Hospital opening on Feb. 26, 2012 in New Lenox.

Don't give up on your 2012 resolution!

Silver Cross Hospital is offering Obesity & Your Health: Is Weight Loss Surgery Right for You? Join Drs. Christopher Joyce and Brian Lahmann, experienced gastric bypass surgeons with Bariatric & Minimally Invasive (BMI) Surgery at Silver Cross Hospital, for a free informational session about Obesity & Your Health: Is Weight Loss Surgery Right for You?

 The program is held every Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. in the Specialty Care Pavilion on the Silver Cross Hospital Campus, 1300 Copperfield Ave., Joliet. Participants will learn about the advantages and risks of traditional and laparoscopic bariatric weight loss surgery, including the REALIZE™ and Lap-Band gastric band systems, find out who is a candidate for the procedure, and hear from area patients about their experiences. Silver Cross has been named as Bariatric Center of Excellence by the American Society of Bariatric Surgery and a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery. Register to attend this free informational session here.

The Joliet Slammers’ mascots—Spikes and J.L. Bird will also be at the opening celebration along with 2011 Frontier League Championship Cup.

In celebration of the opening of the new Silver Cross Hospital at I-355 and Route 6 in New Lenox, several local musical entertainers will perform on Sunday, Feb. 12 at the Housewarming Party between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.   The line-up includes the Sandburg High School Choir from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Joliet Folk Lorico Dancers from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m., Lincoln Way West High School Choir, from 2 to 3 p.m. and the Mt. Zion Baptist Church Music Ministry from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.   

In addition to the performance artists, guests will be treated to a 45-minute self-guided walking tour through several areas in the hospital including the emergency department, imaging, The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit, private medical-surgical patient rooms, Women and Infant Services Birthing Center, and Intensive Care Unit.  In the new  new Procedural Care Unit, which consolidates surgery, endoscopy and interventional cardiology and radiology procedures into one integrated area,  visitors can see the hospital’s newest technology—the Davinci.  This robotic surgical system is designed to facilitate complex surgery using a minimally invasive approach and is controlled by a surgeon from a console.  The Davinci robot is commonly used for prostatectomies and hysterectomies. There will even be a “Name the Robot” Contest in which tour participants will have a chance to win a Sony Bloggie Touch video camera.

 “This is your opportunity to get a sneak peek before we open our doors on Feb. 26,” said Paul Pawlak, President and CEO of Silver Cross Hospital.  “We will take you into areas that most people never have a chance to see such as the operating room and interventional core which includes the cath lab, interventional radiology lab, electrophysiology suite where doctors repair fast beating hearts and insert pacemakers, and where our brand new biplane angiography imaging system will be located to treat patients with strokes later this summer.”

 New Hospital Opening Feb. 26, 2012. Construction began on the $370 million replacement hospital in 2009.  The 6-story facility was built using evidence-based design, which has been proven to help in the healing process and contribute to a speedier recovery for patients.   Some of the many ways that evidence-based design has been integrated into the 289-bed replacement hospital is with large, private patient rooms, natural and enhanced lighting, sound and noise control, cheerful yet calming colors, ties to nature, bedside care and dedicated family areas.  When the new hospital opens at 7 a.m. on Feb. 26, patients and families will also benefit from new technology and expanded services through partnerships with renowned academic centers including Children’s Memorial Hospital, The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, and most recently, the University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC).  UCMC and Silver Cross are currently building an outpatient cancer center that will open in April 2012 on the New Lenox campus.

“We are building on our century old commitment to the Will County community by relocating our seven-time 100 Top Hospital care to a state-of-the-art facility that will serve future generations,” said Pawlak.

Reservations Recommended! Due to space limitations, reservations are highly recommended for the free grand opening event.  Secure your tour time at www.silvercross.org/newhospital and be entered in a raffle to win a KINDLE FIRE.

This year, our employees went above and beyond to decorate the Christmas trees, and competition was tough. So THANK YOU to all the fans who voted and helped us decide the winners for our Annual Christmas Tree Contest.

With 122 votes, Snow Global Network designed by IT &Telecommincations wins the Best Theme.

With 52 votes, Family Snow Day by Emergency Services was the first runner up for Most Unique. Guardian Angel by Women & Infant Services won the category by just 2 votes, at 54 total votes.

With 264 votes, Guardian Angel designed by Women & Infant Services wins the Most Beautiful.

Last year's winning tree for "most beautiful". Who will win the title this year? Cast your vote today!

…over here at Silver Cross Hospital! We’ve decked our halls with holiday cheer and set up the annual Christmas Tree Display in the windows of the Smith Pavillion. The annual Christmas Tree Contest was started many years ago to help promote healing for our patients and visitors by making the environment festive during this special time of year,” said Sue Garrison, Chairperson of the Silver Cross Employee Activity Council.”   “It also raises funds for the Silver Cross Employee Assistance Fund, which assists employees in times of major healthcare needs and life crises.”

 Like last year, we need YOUR help.  We need your VOTE to help us decide the winning Christmas tree in each category:”most unique”,”best theme”,and “most beautiful”. A lot is at stake here, the winning department will not only win a prize, but bragging rights, so please take a moment to vote.

CLICK BELOW TO VOTE!

MOST UNIQUE

BEST THEME

MOST BEAUTIFUL

All are invited to stop by in December and purchase raffle tickets to take your favorite tree (and all the gifts under it) home! Each tree with all the decorations will be raffled off on Thursday, December 15.  Raffle tickets are available for purchase at Java City (inside the Smith Pavilion Lobby), from 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2-4 p.m. or at the hospital’s Francis Pavilion Lobby Reception Desk from 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. Monday thru Friday. Tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5.  All proceeds will benefit the Silver Cross Employee Assistance Fund.

Ps….Don’t forget to “fan” us on Facebook to view more photos of the trees and see images of the gifts under the tree!

More than 75 million Americans are at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life, an astounding 24% of the country’s population. According to the American Diabetes Association, healthy eating and consistent exercise are the two best ways to stave off this preventable disease.

Today, we’ll be focusing on healthy eating tips you can take home with you. If you’re one of the Americans at high risk for type 2, this list can help you start down a healthier path!

• Dairy is actually an excellent way to prevent diabetes. We highly recommend you drink skim milk, or at the very most, 1% to get your daily dairy.
• Coffee is also fantastic! If you’re worried about caffeine intake, decaf coffee is just as effective. Remember to drink filtered coffee, however; unfiltered may spike cholesterol levels.
• As little as half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to keep your blood sugar a healthy level.
• Go nuts! Daily doses of peanuts, cashews, walnuts, or almonds can drastically lower type 2 diabetes risk.

Our Diabetes Fall Fest is Saturday, November 12 (tomorrow!) from 8 a.m. until noon. We’ll see you there!

Every woman that has a man in thier life that they love, keep reading. The men in your life are at risk. Every man will experience problems with their prostate at some point in their lives, but for men aged 50 and older the risk for prostate related problems is even higher.Silver Cross Hospital is hosting a free lecture on Healthy Men, Healthy Prostate on Tuesday, November 22, at 6:30 p.m. to help men understand the signs of a healthy prostate.

 Dr. Greg Andros, urologist on staff at Silver Cross Hospital, will lead the discussion on various prostate problems, including prostate cancer, enlargement of the prostate (BPH), and infection of the prostate. Men will learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of these conditions as well as information about prevention and screening. Also covered will be the latest treatments for enlarged prostate and erectile dysfunction, a condition affecting millions of men. This free program will be presented at the Silver Cross Hospital Conference Center, 1200 Maple Rd., Joliet. Register to attend here or call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325).

Patsy Harris mingles with attendees at the annual diabetes fall fest

In honor of Diabetes Awareness month, the Silver Cross Diabetes Center will host its annual Diabetes Fall Fest on Saturday, November 12 from 8 a.m. to Noon.

“Since 1996, we have helped thousands of diabetics and their family members to live with this chronic disease, that if not cared for appropriately, could lead to heart disease, blindness and amputation,” says Patsy Harris, R.N., program director for the Silver Cross Diabetes Center.  “Holding our annual fall event is just one of the ways we are committed to improving the quality of life for our patients and the residents of the southwest suburbs living with diabetes.”

Diabetes information and product booths will open at 8 a.m. and participants can be screened for high blood pressure and cholesterol.  No fasting is required.  Between 8:30-11:30 there will be various physician led programs discussing Diabetes management, foot health, and eye care.  From 10:30 a.m. to Noon, Silver Cross chefs will hold healthy sugar-free cooking demonstrations.  Raffle prizes and refreshments will be available.  Diabetic participants will also receive a gift bag with samples of diabetes-related products. To register to attend, click here or call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325).