Deaconess Illinois Medical Center Becomes Certified SANE Treatment Facility, Expanding Access to Specialized Care
Date/Time
Date(s) - 07/22/2026 - 08/30/2026
12:00 am
Categories
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS- Deaconess Illinois Medical Center has expanded its emergency services by
earning designation as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) treatment facility, strengthening access
to specialized, trauma-informed care for sexual assault survivors throughout Southern Illinois.
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners are registered nurses who have completed advanced education in
forensic nursing, trauma-informed medical care and crisis intervention. Their specialized training helps
ensure survivors receive treatment while preserving forensic evidence in accordance with nationally
recognized standards.
The designation establishes Deaconess Illinois Medical Center as a destination for patients requiring
comprehensive sexual assault forensic examinations. In addition to caring for surviving patients who
present directly to the emergency department, Deaconess Illinois Medical Center now accepts transfers
from hospitals throughout the region when circumstances require this specialized care.
Deaconess Illinois Crossroads in Mt. Vernon and Deaconess Illinois Union County Hospital in Anna will
continue serving as transfer sites, ensuring patients are rapidly evaluated and connected to the appropriate
level of specialized care at Deaconess Illinois Medical Center or another designated SANE treatment
facility.
“Becoming a designated SANE treatment facility strengthens our ability to provide expert forensic
examinations while supporting patients through an incredibly vulnerable experience” said Keith Gebke,
Director of Emergency Services for Deaconess Illinois. “This designation also enhances our partnership
with hospitals throughout the region by ensuring specialized resources are available close to home when
they are needed most.”
The addition of SANE treatment services reflects Deaconess Illinois’ continued commitment to expanding
access to advanced emergency care across the region. By establishing Deaconess Illinois Medical Center
as a specialized treatment center while maintaining transfer pathways through Crossroads and Union
County, patients benefit from a seamless continuum of care that prioritizes both timely treatment and
clinical excellence.
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ABOUT DEACONESS HEALTH SYSTEM: Deaconess Health System is a premiere provider of
health care services to a population of more than 1.5 million in southwestern Indiana,
western Kentucky and southeastern Illinois. The system, based in Evansville, Indiana, includes 23
hospitals – among them Deaconess Midtown Hospital, Deaconess Gateway Hospital, The Women’s
Hospital, Deaconess Henderson Hospital, Deaconess Memorial Medical Center and numerous other
hospital affiliates. Deaconess Clinic, a fully integrated multispecialty group featuring primary care
physicians as well as top specialty doctors, provides patients with consistent and convenient
care. Additional components include the Linda E. White Hospice House, a freestanding cancer center,
urgent care facilities, near-site clinics, telemedicine, virtual visits, a network of preferred hospitals and
doctors and multiple partnerships with other regional health care providers.