CHESTER – Memorial Hospital in Chester has earned the Merit Award in the Community Outreach category at the Illinois Society of Healthcare Marketing and Public Relations Fall Conference, held September 17 in Geneva, IL. The Merit Award represents the second highest honor in its category and recognizes the hospital’s innovative campaign introducing the new Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehab Center to area residents. Mariah Bargman, Marketing and Community Relations Manager at Memorial, joined peers from across the state to accept the accolade and celebrate the team’s dedication to patient education and community engagement.
(L-R) Amy Mathis, Cardiac Pulmonary Rehab Nurse Supervisor; Melissa Soellner, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist; Kelly Jany, Nurse Manager; Brett Bollmann, CEO; Susan Diddlebock, Chief Nursing Officer; Mariah Bargman, Marketing and Community Relations Manager.
The award‐winning campaign launched in June 2024, shortly after the center opened its doors in May. Faced with rising rates of respiratory and cardiac diagnoses, Memorial Hospital set out to bridge gaps in post-hospital care by bringing specialized rehabilitation services closer to home. The marketing initiative wove together warm photography of familiar faces, educational videos featuring Dr. John Groll, Cardiologist and Specialty Clinic physician at Memorial, along with print and digital materials designed to explain the recovery process and encourage referrals from providers.
Throughout the year, the hospital’s Marketing Department and Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehab Center leveraged a multi-channel awareness campaign that included trusted voices and visual storytelling. The materials underscored Memorial Hospital’s commitment to long-term wellness and health equity, ensuring that patients and families felt both informed and supported from diagnosis through recovery.
By the end of its first year, the Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehab Center had served 22 patients, 18 completing the cardiac rehab program, two completing pulmonary rehab, and two receiving outpatient respiratory services. To sustain patient engagement beyond the campaign’s launch, the Rehab Center has introduced monthly support sessions for program graduates and the public with their “Beat, Breathe, Thrive” meetings held the fourth Tuesday of every month. Staff have provided educational talks at senior centers and continue to reach out to the community at in-person events.
“Winning the ISHMPR Merit Award affirms our belief that heartfelt storytelling and community trust are vital in healthcare outreach,” said Brett Bollmann, CEO at Memorial Hospital. “Our Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehab Center campaign was built on empathy, clarity, and local connections. We’re honored to be recognized and remain steadfast in our mission to help every patient heal and thrive close to home.”
The Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehab Center offers personalized exercise programs, nutritional guidance, risk-factor education, and ongoing support for individuals recovering from heart surgeries, heart attacks, chronic respiratory conditions, and other cardiopulmonary events. For more information visit www.memorialhospital.org/CPRC or call (618) 826-4581.