Taylor Leddin, Author at The Riverside Connection

Friendship Festival Parade: T-shirt pick up, location and more

Represent Riverside at the 2025 Bourbonnais Friendship Festival Parade on Sunday, June 29.

Riverside employees who sign up receive a special edition Riverside t-shirt to wear at the parade! If you have any questions, please reach out to Taylor Leddin-McMaster at [email protected] or ext. 46503.

T-shirt pick up

Shirt Pick Up is Thursday, June 26, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Pavilion lobby. If you cannot pick up your shirt during this time – no need to fear! You can schedule a time to pick it up from the marketing office by contacting Taylor Leddin-McMaster at [email protected] or we will have your shirt ready for you the day of the parade!

Line-up information

Additional information for the day-of will be emailed to add volunteers prior to the parade.

Bourbonnais Friendship Festival “CHEERS TO 50 YEARS”

  • Location Olivet Nazarene University: Parking lot between Centennial Chapel and Ward (football field)
  • See map- Entering staging area

Read More

DAISY Award Winner: Sharon Gardner

Congratulations to our April 2025 DAISY Award honoree, Sharon Gardner, RN/Procedural Testing!

Sharon’s nomination read: “I am honored to nominate Sharon for the Riverside Hospital Daisy Award in recognition of her outstanding patient care, unwavering commitment to safety, and the deeply compassionate connection she formed with my mother following her angioplasty on Monday, April 7th. From the moment Sharon entered my mother’s room, her calming presence, quiet confidence, and kind demeanor immediately earned our trust. She brought not only professionalism but also a sense of comfort that made a world of difference during a difficult time. No matter how challenging the day became, Sharon remained attentive, present, and deeply respectful, consistently going above and beyond to ensure my mother felt heard, safe, and valued. Sharon delivered care with the perfect balance of clinical skill and heartfelt compassion. She treated my mother not just as a patient, but as a person-with dignity, tenderness, and patience. Every task from administering medications to adjusting her position after she vomited, was done with care and intention. She also took the time to explain each step patiently answering my many questions and helping us understand what to expect next. One moment that especially stood out was when my mother, who had become very anxious, agitated, was crying. Sharon’s response never wavered she continued with her steady, gentle approach, using simple conversation, active listening, and her consistent presence to build trust. Slowly, my mother began to relax and respond, allowing care and becoming more at ease. This was a turning point, and it was entirely due to Sharon’s unwavering compassion and determination to see the person behind the symptoms. Beyond clinical care, Sharon connected with my mom on a personal level-asking about her hobbies and encouraging her to talk about our pets. As a patient advocate, Sharon ensured that the care plan truly reflected my mother’s needs. That level of dedication is rare, and it left a lasting impression on our entire family. It is with deep gratitude that I nominate Sharon for this well-deserved recognition. She truly embodies everything the Daisy Award represents. Her care made a meaningful difference during a very stressful time, and we are grateful for her compassion and professionalism.”

Read More

Celebrating the Birthing Center’s re-designation as a Level 2 Nursery

From the Family Birthing Center:

“So many things to celebrate! This year, the Birthing Center was re-designated as a Level 2 Nursery. We couldn’t have accomplished this without the support of our staff, providers, lab, radiology, social work, respiratory, pharmacy, dietary, and leadership. Our deliveries have continued to increase over the last few years. We celebrated with some cupcakes. How did the cupcake get the job? It was well-rounded, just like this team!”

Read More

The Importance of LGBTQ+ Representation in Medicine

We recognize that LGBTQ+ representation in healthcare is critical to foster an inclusive environment, reduce barriers to accessing care, and improve health outcomes for LGBTQ+ individuals.

We have taken several steps at Riverside to increase LGBTQ+ representation including the option to add pronouns to your Riverside email signature, creating an LGBTQ+ Subcommittee to continue conversations and help advance our Healthcare Equality Index efforts, and including preferred names on hospital wristbands.

In addition, to the work we are doing internally, during Pride Month this year, Riverside will have special messaging on our electronic boards to acknowledge our staff and patients of the LGBTQ+ community, attend several community events, and light up the building in a rainbow hue on June 1st and Pride Day (June 28).

If you are interested in additional LGBTQ+ training or resources, we encourage you to utilize our free access to The National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center. Click here for steps to access or contact HR for more information.

Take the survey

Riverside invites members of the LGBTQ+ community to participate in an anonymous survey about their interests and experiences accessing and receiving healthcare services. Responses will help us understand the healthcare needs of the LGBTQ+ community in our area. Please feel free to share this survey link with community members who may be interested in providing feedback.

https://riversidehealthcare.formstack.com/forms/survey_lgbtq

Read More