Peoria Standard

Carle Health partners with Illinois Wesleyan University on its student health services

Carle Health is assuming responsibility for the clinical management and day-to-day operations of the Illinois Wesleyan University Arnold Health Services in Bloomington in a move that both organizations hope will enhance the students’ access to healthcare.
 
The transition happens on April 1. Jennifer Toohill, a Carle Health Family Nurse Practitioner, will be the advanced practice provider (APP) at Arnold Health Services.
 
Colleen Kannaday, president of Carle BroMenn Medical Center in Normal, said Carle BroMenn and IWU have had a long-standing partnership, mostly related to the nursing profession.
 
“We are looking forward to this expansion of our partnership and the opportunity to have a positive impact on the students and the broader university,” Kannaday said. “Our close physical proximity makes this a wonderful next step as we continue to deepen our relationship.”
 
Carle BroMenn is located directly north of the Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) campus.
 
“We’re excited about this opportunity to partner with Illinois Wesleyan University to provide quality healthcare services to its student population,” Amanda Smith, vice president of Ambulatory Care for Carle BroMenn, said.
 
Karla Carney-Hall, IWU vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students, said “We value this partnership, which we see as a natural fit with a next-door neighbor institution that is trusted in our community. We look forward to partnering with Carle Health so that Arnold Health Services can continue to provide quality healthcare to our students.”
 
The Arnold Health Services name will be retained, as will the location at Magill Hall, 1402 Franklin Ave., Bloomington, on the IWU campus.
 
Arnold Health Services includes basic wellness and preventive care, including women’s health, behavioral health and treatment of respiratory conditions, skin conditions and allergies. Hours are 8 a.m. - noon and 1 - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday.
 
Services and hours will remain the same during the transition. Carle will assess operations as it learns more about IWU student needs.
 
“We will examine the needs of that population,” John Hesse, Carle BroMenn vice president of Business Development, said.
 
Students will continue to cover the cost of the health services through their tuition and fees.
 
“No invoices or bills will be generated for their visits,” Hesse said.
 
Illinois Wesleyan was considering how to continue to offer quality health services but in a more cost-effective manner and solicited a request for proposals (RFP) to partner with IWU on the Arnold Health Services, Carney-Hall said. Carle was selected as a result of the RFP process, she said.
 
Carle will provide the advanced practice nurse and oversee daily operations, including ordering medical and office supplies, Hesse said.
 
Toohill, an APP and family nurse practitioner who has authority to prescribe medication, has been a registered nurse since 1999. She worked at BroMenn from 1999 to 2018, mostly in the Emergency Department, then worked for Medical Hills Internists in Bloomington from 2018 until March 2023.
 
Arnold Health Services also has a student health nurse, Laura Kane, RN, who will remain with the health service as an IWU employee, Carney-Hall said. Kane also works for Carle on a part-time basis.
 
Carle BroMenn provides urgent care and emergency care to IWU students. By providing healthcare to that population at Arnold Health Services, Carle Health hopes that preventive care and health education will be enhanced, and referrals to specialists in women’s health, behavioral health and orthopedics will be increased. That means healthcare will improve and fewer students will need emergency treatment, Hesse said.
 
“We’ve been the healthcare provider for that student population, largely on an urgent-care basis,” Hesse said. “This affords us the opportunity to be part of an accessible, convenient location right on their campus. How refreshing it would be that our first contact with that population would be at the student health services rather than the Emergency Department.”
 
Carney-Hall said, in the past five years, Arnold Health Services has averaged 2,100 student-visits per year. The university has 1,600 students. 

Original source can be found here