Ascension Saint Alexius

10/17/2026

💕 The group chat has discussed everything from bad dates to what we're wearing this weekend. Can we make room for breast health, too?

Maybe you've been meaning to schedule your first mammogram. Maybe you've been putting off your next one because life keeps getting busy. Or maybe you have a friend who's been wondering what to expect.

Whatever the case, a little information can make that next step feel less intimidating.

💗 And look who's helping us out! Cardio Mario has found his way to mammography to point us toward a few things worth knowing before an appointment.

At Ascension Illinois, we want women to feel informed and confident when making decisions about their breast health. Early detection matters, and understanding your screening options is a good place to start.

🎀 Here's to making breast health part of the conversations we have with each other, today and throughout the year.

Care teams at Ascension Illinois in the greater Chicagoland area provide mammograms to screen for breast health and help detect signs of breast cancer.

10/16/2026

🏆 20+ years. $1.3 million. One shared commitment to a healthier Hoffman Estates! 💙

That's what the partnership between Ascension Saint Alexius and the Hoffman Estates Park District has helped make possible for our community!

For more than two decades, we've worked together to bring free clinical services, preventive health screenings, and accessible wellness events to local residents, helping make health and wellness resources easier to access.

And last Friday, October 9, that longstanding partnership received a special recognition at the Illinois Association of Park Districts' Best of the Best Awards Gala! 🎉

💙 To our partners at the Hoffman Estates Park District, thank you for more than 20 years of collaboration. And to our physicians and leaders who joined the celebration, thank you for representing Ascension Saint Alexius!

Here's to continuing the work that helps our Hoffman Estates neighbors access the care and wellness resources they deserve! 👏

10/15/2026

🦸‍♂️ How many people can say they live next door to a real-life superhero? One neighbor of Ascension Saint Alexius security associate David Balase says she does!

When David witnessed a serious car accident near his home, he didn't hesitate to help.

He rushed to the scene, helped a woman out of her damaged vehicle, carried her to safety, and called 911.

His actions left such an impression that a neighbor who witnessed everything wrote a heartfelt letter to the hospital.

💙 “David did not have to stop, he did not have to risk his life to help a stranger, he could've just driven past the accident, but David is different...he stopped, rescued, helped without hesitation.”

The neighbor shared how grateful she was to live next door to a real-life hero, calling David's actions unforgettable. She even nominated him for the hospital's Hall of Fame!

🐝 David's extraordinary compassion and quick action also earned him a BEE Award, recognizing the difference he made when someone needed help.

During Healthcare Security and Safety Week, we're recognizing David and the entire security and safety team at Ascension Saint Alexius for their commitment to helping others.

👏 David, your courage and willingness to step in when someone needed help remind us that compassion doesn't end when the workday does.

10/14/2026

🚨 When every second counts, you want an emergency care team you can count on. And at Ascension Saint Alexius, that team is among the nation's best!

This Emergency Nurses Day, we're celebrating our incredible Emergency Department nurses and a major accomplishment: earning the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) Lantern Award! 🏮👏

It's a national recognition awarded to fewer than 2% of emergency departments across the country, honoring excellence in nursing leadership, patient care, education, advocacy, and research.

And what makes this recognition even more meaningful? Hospitals are evaluated through a blinded review process, meaning the judges don't know which hospital they're reviewing. The team's work speaks for itself. 💙

As Chief Nursing Officer Kelsey Knutti shared:

“Every single shift you work, every difficult patient you care for and every time you step up to support a teammate, that is what built the foundation for this award.”

From the moments that demand quick decisions to the compassion patients and families need during difficult times, our emergency nurses show up for their community every day.

💜 Congratulations to our Ascension Saint Alexius Emergency Department team on this well-deserved recognition, and Happy Emergency Nurses Day!

10/13/2026

🥵 Hot flashes at the worst possible time? Waking up at 3 a.m. for no apparent reason? Wondering why your body suddenly seems to have a mind of its own?

Menopause can bring a lot of changes, and a lot of questions. But women deserve more than being told it's just part of getting older. 💜

That's why Ascension Saint Alexius Women & Children's Hospital partnered with Midwest Center for Women's HealthCare to host a free menopause workshop focused on real answers and practical solutions.

Women had the opportunity to hear from Menopause Society Certified Practitioners about menopause myths and facts, hot flashes, hormonal and non-hormonal therapies, and ways to manage symptoms. They could also ask questions directly to the experts.

And the conversation went beyond medical treatments! Attendees had the opportunity to take part in a gentle exercise session focused on maintaining muscle mass, pick up practical nutrition tips on incorporating more protein into their diets, and watch a local chef demonstrate how to prepare a healthy meal. 🥗

There was even a raffle with menopause-related gifts from the doctors! 🎁

The more you understand menopause and the changes your body is going through, the better equipped you are to find what works for you.

🎥 Special thanks to Ana Belaval and WGN TV for joining us and helping bring these conversations to women across Chicagoland!

10/12/2026

You know when the doctor asks, “What brings you in?” and suddenly you forget everything you planned to say? 😅

Lorena Poggensee, PA-C, is there for the long version.

At Ascension Medical Group Illinois Primary Care Bartlett, Lorena takes time to hear what is going on, learn your family health history and understand what matters to you before figuring out next steps together.

So bring the questions. Bring the notes in your phone. Bring the thing you almost talked yourself out of mentioning.

It is National PA Week, and we’re celebrating Lorena for making room for the conversation. 🩺💙

10/10/2026

💚 Think about how many people you cross paths with in a single day.

The person sitting next to you on the train. The coworker who seems a little quieter than usual. The stranger who didn't smile back.

You see a moment of their day, but you don't see everything that brought them there.

Someone might be navigating grief, adjusting to medication, managing anxiety, or simply trying to make it through a difficult week.

And the truth is, we don't need to know someone's story to treat them with compassion.

On World Mental Health Day, Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital encourages us all to lead with a little more patience, kindness, and understanding.

Because sometimes the smallest moments of compassion can mean more than we realize. 💙

10/09/2026

Hi, Link here. 🐾💗

I take keeping an eye on the people I love very seriously. I follow them from room to room. I supervise snack time. I even wait outside the bathroom, just in case.

So I have one question: Have you scheduled your mammogram?

Regular breast screenings can help find breast cancer early, when it is most treatable. At Ascension Illinois, yearly mammograms are recommended beginning at age 40, although some people may need to start earlier based on family history or other risk factors.

You have people who love you, people who count on you and possibly a four legged family member who has absolutely no concept of personal space. 🐶

Take care of yourself for all of them. And for you, too. 💗

Love,
Link 🐾

10/08/2026

🩺 When was the last time you had a doctor's appointment that wasn't because something felt wrong?

Between busy schedules, family responsibilities, and everything else life throws your way, it's easy to put preventive care on the back burner.

But staying healthy involves more than treating symptoms. It means understanding your health, catching potential concerns early, and having a doctor who knows your story. 💙

Meet Guntippar Pratumngern, DO, a board-certified family medicine physician at Ascension Illinois in Palatine with more than 25 years of experience.

From annual checkups and preventive screenings to diabetes management, nutrition, thyroid health, and healthy aging, Dr. Pratumngern focuses on helping patients build healthier lives at every stage.

And because healthcare conversations should feel comfortable, not complicated, she takes time to listen, understand your goals, and create a care plan that fits your needs.

🗣️ Fluent in English and Thai, Dr. Pratumngern brings a personalized, whole-person approach to caring for individuals and families in the Palatine community.

https://healthcare.ascension.org/find-care/provider/1306967724/gunt...

10/08/2026

At 18, Amber Sayles, PA-C, already knew what she wanted to do: help people. 🩺💙

She started as an EMT and paramedic. Today, she brings those years of patient care experience into family medicine and primary care at Ascension Illinois in Schaumburg.

Amber cares for patients of most ages, whether they are coming in for preventive care, managing a chronic condition or dealing with something that suddenly has them feeling lousy.

Through all of it, she wants patients to feel heard.

“I have worked in other healthcare settings and know how much compassionate, empathic and high-quality care can make a difference in people's lives.”

That belief has followed Amber from an ambulance to the primary care office, and it is still what drives her today.

This National Physician Assistants Week, we’re celebrating Amber and the physician assistants across Ascension Illinois who chose this work because helping people is exactly where they want to be. 💙 Thank you for all you do. 🌟

Amber Sayles, PA-C, is an experienced physician assistant specializing in family medicine and primary care at Ascension Illinois in Schaumburg, near Chicago. She provides primary care for patients of most ages, including preventive care, management of chronic conditions and care for acute health con...

10/07/2026

Breast cancer care is personal for the patient. For the surgeon caring for them, it should feel personal too. 💗

That is how one of our breast surgeons at Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital - Chicago approaches every patient who comes into their care.

“I want them to be treated the way I would treat my family.”

That commitment has shaped years spent studying breast cancer, staying current on surgical treatment options and training future surgeons to bring that same level of care to their own patients.

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, hear why this work remains so close to their heart. 🎥💗

https://healthcare.ascension.org/find-care/provider/1447416722/mari...

10/07/2026

National PA Week gives us a good reason to talk about Anna Duffy, PA-C. But Anna has been giving Bartlett families reasons to know her since 2010. 🩺💙

Her background includes emergency medicine, so she knows the value of being ready when something unexpected happens. In primary care, she gets to know what happens between those unexpected moments, too.

Anna cares for patients of all ages at Ascension Illinois in Bartlett, with a special interest in pediatrics and preventive health screenings. She can see the kid with a sore throat, the parent overdue for a checkup and the grandparent managing a chronic condition.

And when the whole family sees the same provider? Anna gets to know the health history that connects them.

After work, her own family keeps her moving. She spends as much time outdoors as she can with her husband, two young sons and one energetic puppy. 🐾

Happy National PA Week, Anna! 💙

10/07/2026

You see 138/86 on the screen. Now what? 👀❤️

First, know what you are looking at.

🫀 Top number: the pressure when your heart beats
🫀 Bottom number: the pressure when your heart rests

And here is a quick guide to the ranges:

💚 Normal: less than 120/80
🟡 Elevated: 120 to 129 and less than 80
🟠 Stage 1 high blood pressure: 130 to 139 or 80 to 89
🔴 Stage 2: 140 or higher or 90 or higher

Before one unexpected number sends you spiraling, Rina Verma, MD, cardiologist at Ascension Illinois, has an important reminder: doctors look for patterns over time, not one reading by itself. Stress, caffeine, exercise, pain and even rushing to your appointment can temporarily raise your blood pressure.

What matters is knowing your numbers and paying attention when they are consistently elevated.

So the next time that cuff comes off, you will have a much better idea of what those two numbers are telling you. ❤️

10/06/2026

Some days you may need more support. Other days, you may be ready to try more on your own. 💚

Both can be part of the same recovery.

At Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, structure and consistency can give patients something steady to return to while skills, conversations and support are shaped around what they need along the way.

The words shared here came from three different patients. What helped each person was personal to them.

And that is exactly the point. Recovery does not have to look the same from one person to the next. 🧠

At Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, we provide personalized mental health treatment plans.

10/05/2026

Mental health can get isolating fast. A canceled plan becomes another canceled plan. A text goes unanswered. Asking for help keeps getting pushed to tomorrow.

That is why community matters. 💚

During Mental Illness Awareness Week, Oct. 5 through 11, this year’s theme, “Building Community: Supporting Mental Well-being Together,” puts the focus on the connections that can make it easier to feel seen, supported and less alone.

Community can look different for everyone. A friend who checks in again. A family member who listens. A support group where you do not have to explain everything. A care team that helps you figure out what kind of support you need.

At Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, that community includes mental health care for children, teens and adults, with outpatient, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, residential and inpatient options, as well as support groups for patients and families.

Sometimes building a stronger mental health community starts close to home: notice people, keep checking in and make room for conversations that may be hard to start. 💚

At Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, we provide personalized mental health treatment plans.

10/05/2026

Your chart knows your blood pressure. It does not know you take the stairs every morning, want enough energy to keep up with your kids or have been trying to make dinner at home more often. 🩺

Andrew Pavlatos, MD, wants to know both.

As a family medicine doctor with Ascension Illinois in Chicago, Dr. Pavlatos cares for the routine things like checkups, screenings, vaccinations and everyday illnesses while paying attention to the life happening outside the exam room.

“I treat the whole patient, not just diseases. I strive to help my patients lead healthier lifestyles.”

Because a health plan has to work in your actual life if you are going to live it. 💙

10/04/2026

They were being asked to move forward with a procedure they did not understand. And they were not comfortable saying yes until someone explained it.

Then they met Ben.

The patient’s parent shared that Ben met them in radiology and took the time to answer their questions about the procedure.

“Ben met us in the unit was absolutely wonderful! He was knowledgeable, patient, and understanding! He put us both at ease and made us totally comfortable to have the procedure done!”

Questions deserve answers, especially when you are making decisions about your care or the care of someone you love.

Ben, this family will remember that you made sure they felt informed and comfortable before moving forward. Thank you for being that person for them at Ascension Alexian Brothers. 💙

10/03/2026

There is a lot happening before your doctor ever walks into the exam room.

Sandra Edmonds is one of the people paying attention to what could otherwise get missed. Is someone due for an annual wellness visit? Has a patient with diabetes had the follow up care they need? Are children staying on schedule with vaccinations?

As a clinical transformation specialist with the Ascension Illinois Clinically Integrated Network, Sandra works with Ascension Medical Group Illinois and independent physician practices to turn patient data into something care teams can actually use.

“Navigating quality metrics isn’t just numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s about ensuring every patient receives the best preventative care, annual wellness visits and chronic disease support they need to thrive. Building trust with our group providers and independent practices and seeing them succeed is the most rewarding part of my work.”

Sandra is celebrating two years with Ascension Illinois, and much of her work happens where patients may never see it. The impact can show up at their next appointment. 💙

10/02/2026

Hi, Link here. 🐾💗

I take keeping an eye on the people I love very seriously. I follow them from room to room. I supervise snack time. I even wait outside the bathroom, just in case.

So I have one question: Have you scheduled your mammogram?

Regular breast screenings can help find breast cancer early, when it is most treatable. At Ascension Illinois, yearly mammograms are recommended beginning at age 40, although some people may need to start earlier based on family history or other risk factors.

You have people who love you, people who count on you and possibly a four legged family member who has absolutely no concept of personal space. 🐶

Take care of yourself for all of them. And for you, too. 💗

Love,
Link 🐾

Care teams at Ascension Illinois in the greater Chicagoland area provide mammograms to screen for breast health and help detect signs of breast cancer.