Helping Lutheran General excel:
Giving to Lutheran General's area of greatest need provides additional resources and flexibility to respond quickly to new opportunities and programs that support the hospital's strategic directions.

Helping Lutheran General Children's Hospital excel:
Giving to Lutheran General Children's Hospital's area of greatest need provides additional resources and flexibility to respond quickly to new opportunities and programs that support the hospital's strategic directions.

Special care for developmental challenges:
Adults with Down syndrome make up a new population of developmentally disabled who outlive their caretakers. Serving over 3,000 patients, the Adult Down Syndrome Center provides crucial psychosocial and medical services to people with Down syndrome across the Midwest. It is the first of its kind in the world. Many in this unique population are on public assistance and, in most instances, there are few sources of reimbursement for these much-needed services.

To ensure the future of this unique service, the Adult Down Syndrome Center is establishing a $3 million endowment fund. Your contribution will ensure that these patients continue to get care that addresses their special needs and encourage research that will help those with DS lead fuller, healthier lives.

Income from the endowment will allow Advocate Medical Group and Advocate Lutheran General Hospital to advance, enrich and ensure the programs and services of this uniquely focused center serving adult patients with Down syndrome.

Creatiing a healing environment:
In 2006, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital will break ground for a new 192-room eight-story bed tower, which will feature single rooms to enhance patient safety, comfort and privacy. It will include improved facilities for the special treatment needs of intensive care, oncology, neurology/stroke, surgical and obstetrical patients. Your gift to the bed tower will help give our health care professionals a supportive environment to provide the best possible patient care and experience.

Supporting a full continuum of cancer care services:
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital is consistently recognized as one of the top 50 oncology programs in the nation through the "America's Best Hospitals Study" of the U.S. News and World Report. In addition, its cancer services have been ranked number one in the "Chicago's Top Hospitals" survey. At this time, Lutheran General Hospital is undertaking its most transformative capital project since its opening in 1959: the complete renovation of its Cancer Institute. This new, state-of-the-art facility will consolidate all outpatient services into one location with faster appointments and easier access to services. It will feature the latest in technology and research combined with a multi-disciplinary, faith-based approach to clinical care, while poised to meet the current and future needs of the communities they serve.

Keeping hearts healthy and strong:
Cardiovascular disease is a leading killer of Americans - but a preventable condition. Gifts to this fund help us catch heart and vascular disease early through risk assessments and to educate patients on ways they can cut their risk of heart attack and stroke. Offering patients open access to diagnostic, treatment and lifestyle management programs, the program includes targeted services such as heart failure management, the anticoagulation clinic and the women's cardiac health clinic.

Funds contributed to this priority will expand the community-based cardiac risk-reduction program. The program's mission is to prevent acute cardiac problems in the 35-50 year old age range. Plans include a vascular center, a diabetes component and cardiac MRI technology.

Providing access to quick, accurate outpatient imaging services:
Access to quick, accurate outpatient imaging services is one of the fastest-growing demands from health care consumers today. In response to this growing need, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital is constructing a 15,000 square foot outpatient imaging facility that will be connected via walkway to both the Cancer Institute and the Caldwell Breast Health Center. Its location will allow patients to come to the Center for their outpatient imaging referrals without having to come into Lutheran General Hospital, with attached parking providing easy access. The Center for Advanced Imaging will feature the latest in state-of-the-art imaging technology, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT scanners, Nuclear Medicine Dual Camera, a fused PET/CT scanner, ultrasound and dexa scan.

Caring for those who face financial barriers:
Funds contributed to this priority enable Lutheran General Hospital to cover the costs of care for underinsured and uninsured patients. With difficult economic issues such as unemployment, shrinking insurance coverage and lower reimbursement rates, the health system is forced to absorb more and more of the cost for those who can least afford to pay for their care.

Alleviating anguish through comfort and advice:
For 30 years, the Counseling Center has provided high quality psychotherapy and counseling services that draw from modern psychology and religious tradition to individuals, couples and families. In partnership with congregations and communities, the center also offers education and skill training for healthy living. Your gift will help to bring about mental and spiritual healing and growth for couples, people with mood, anxiety and adjustment disorders and those seeking to enhance their quality of life.

Helping patients manage their chronic illness:
Advocate Medical Group offers patients with diabetes innovative treatment and compassionate care. Our comprehensive approach helps patients with diabetes maintain their health, prevent complications and avoid hospitalization. Advocate Medical Group clinicians have developed a diabetes management program that includes standardized clinical protocols, monitoring procedures and educational programs. Your gift will help people with diabetes cultivate a better understanding of their disease and learn to improve their health and avoid potentially dangerous complications.

Supporting compassionate, confidential care:
A gift to the Caldwell Breast Health Center ensures that women will have their questions about their breast health answered quickly and compassionately. Patients of this comprehensive care facility are offered a range of wholistic healing services, including digital mammographies, ultrasounds, localized biopsies, education and support.

Funds contributed to this priority will provide for the expansion of the breast health care program at Lutheran General Hospital. The expansion will include renovation, more productive clinical space, additional research facilities, new technology and additional community education. The new breast center will be located in the new Cancer Institute and will be nearly triple the size of the current space, allowing us to serve even more patients.

Helping teen cancer patients reclaim a sense of normalcy:
Gifts made to the Hair's to You fund provide wigs or replacement hair for young adults ages 12 to 21 who are undergoing cancer treatment at Lutheran General Children's Hospital. This fund was initiated by Rebecca Reznick, a cancer survivor who fought her disease at Lutheran General.

Unlocking the mysteries of fighting cancer:
Funds contributed to this priority enable the advancement of groundbreaking cancer research at Lutheran General Hospital, recognized as one of the top cancer programs in the country. Clinical research provides patients with more options beyond conventional treatments and gives them access to cutting edge treatments.

Providing compassionate, state-of-the-art care for kids with brain tumors:
Since 1997, the Midwest Children's Brain Tumor Center has been providing hope for kids with brain tumors and their families. Led by Dr. John Ruge, named one of Chicago's top neurosurgeons by the Castle Connolly guide, the multi-disciplinary Center helps patients and parents navigate the path from diagnosis through follow-up care, coordinating every aspect of the child's care. With a nurse-specialist on call 24-hours a day, every patient gets personalized care, and families get the assurance they need. With access to groundbreaking technologies, such as the only intra-operative MRI in Illinois, and a commitment to pediatric brain tumor research, patients are provided with the most innovative treatments available.

Helping patients and families cope with Alzheimers and advanced memory loss:
Alzheimer's disease affects approximately 4 million persons in the United States and has become the fourth leading cause of death following heart disease, cancer and stroke. Advocate Medical Group's Memory Assessment & Alzheimer's Center has the highest volume of Alzheimer patients in the network. The mission of the Center is to provide compassionate care, comprehensive evaluations, treatment and caregiver support. It also serves as an important educational and social resource to the Advocate Health Care System and the community. With the support of our community, this program can successfully continue its mission and thrive in becoming a leader in Alzheimer's care.

Caring for the tiniest miracles:
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Lutheran General Children's Hospital cares for the area's tiniest miracles - helping low birth-weight, premature and critically ill newborns grow and thrice. Our neonatologists and pediatric specialists are on call 24 hours a day to provide advanced, compassionate care to our fragile patients. With your gifts, we are able to advance our research and technology and provide supportive family resources.

Enhancing quality of life for our elders and their caregivers:
We are responding to the seniors in our community be providing programs such as Advocate Lutheran General Hospital's Adult Day Service, Home Delivered Meals and Lifeline emergency response systems. These programs allow the elderly to have medical supervision, 24-hour emergency protection in their own homes and nutritional meals delivered right their door. Your contributions to this fund will allow us to continue making a difference in the lives of all those who benefit from these programs.

Compassionate, holistic care for Adults with long term needs:
Launched in March 2004, the Palliative Care Program offers guidance to patients with advanced progressive diseases, and their families. A team of doctors, nurses, social workers and spiritual counselors help patients and families plan and meet their goals for medical care and quality of life, from pain management to caregiver support. Palliative care staff works in partnership with primary care physicians to manage long term and chronic illnesses and conditions, ensuring quality of life for patients and family members.

Compassionate, holistic care for children with long term needs:
Launched in March 2004, the Palliative Care Program offers guidance to young patients with advanced progressive diseases, and their families. A team of doctors, nurses, social workers and spiritual counselors help patients and families plan and meet their goals for medical care and quality of life, from pain management to caregiver support. Pediatric Palliative Care Specialists work in partnership with primary care physicians to manage long term and chronic illnesses and conditions, ensuring quality of life for children living with advanced progressive diseases and their families.

Mending tiny hearts:
The Pediatric Cardiologists of Advocate Medical Group and the Advocate Lutheran General Children's Hospital (ALGCH) specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital and acquired heart conditions in infants and children of all ages, offering the most comprehensive levels of treatment. In addition to congenital heart defects, the pediatric cardiologists also work with children who have cardiac dysrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms) and hyperlipidemias (lipid disorders). ALGCH remains commitment to providing access to this specialized health care and is collaborating with dedicated individuals, businesses and agencies to obtain the philanthropic support that will ensure the future of the pediatric cardiology program.

Multi-disciplinary care and cutting-edge research for kids with swallowing and digestive disorders:
The Pediatric Esophageal Disorders Center helps kids and parents navigate the diagnosis and treatment of swallowing and digestive orders. Led by one of the top pediatric gastroenterologists in the region, the Center coordinates all aspects of care, from consultations with nutritionists and surgeons, to patient and family support groups and community resources. The Center is also engaged in leading research to find new and innovative ways of treating esophageal disorders and diseases.

Helping kids and their families face a devastating diagnosis:
The Family Support programs for our pediatric cancer and brain tumor centers provide a network of resources for kids and their families. Support groups for patients, parents and siblings are just the beginning. Our Family Support program also provides a Child Life Specialist that works exclusively with cancer and brain tumor patients and their families, parking passes and meal passes for families of patients with long hospital stays, end-of-treatment celebrations, group outings to sports events and other activities, and programs to help patients transition back to school after treatment and hospitalization. These services are paid for 100 percent through philanthropy. Increased funding will allow us to develop a Website support module to expand our outreach opportunities, as well as secure the future of the services we currently offer.