UW Health in Northern Illinois: Expert health care, expanded

Northern Illinois residents now benefit from a well-established partnership that brings together SwedishAmerican’s deep community roots with the advanced capabilities of UW Health, the academic medical center of the University of Wisconsin. This collaboration ensures patients receive high-quality, personalized care — whether for routine visits or complex medical needs — without having to leave the region.

Patients facing serious health challenges, such as cancer or heart disease, have streamlined access to UW Health’s nationally recognized specialists and innovative treatments. Families also benefit from coordinated pediatric and maternal care with the Women and Children’s Hospital in Rockford serving as a regional hub, as well as direct access to UW Health Kids Neonatology experts in Madison available when higher levels of care are needed.

SwedishAmerican continues to serve as a teaching hospital through its longstanding relationship with the University of Illinois College of Medicine, hosting residency programs that support physician training in Rockford.

Patients can expect more targeted outreach and clinical offerings tailored to individual needs — from advanced heart and cancer care to specialized pediatric services — delivered with the convenience and compassion they’ve come to trust.

SwedishAmerican traces its history to 1911, when O.F. Nilson of Rockford urged construction of a Swedish hospital. Half joking, Nilson sent $1 to the editor of Rockford’s Swedish newspaper, challenging every Swedish resident to match his gift. In time, enough money had been raised to start building, leading to the opening of the first SwedishAmerican Hospital in 1918.

SwedishAmerican prides itself not only on its evolution into a leading local health system but as a deeply invested member of the community. UW Health is committed to ensuring that this investment not only continues but grows, ensuring northern Illinois patients with access to the best possible health care.

SwedishAmerican has been consistently recognized for its commitment to quality and excellence, which has garnered numerous national awards.

These include:

• Clinical Quality and Workplace Excellence

• Magnet recognition

• Top 100 Hospital Quality Award (Total Benchmark Solutions)

• 150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare (Becker's Healthcare): 2015, 2016

• 150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare (Becker's Healthcare): 2017, 2018, 2019

• 100 Top Hospital Designation (Solucient)

• Distinguished Hospital Award (J.D. Power and Associates)

• National Quality Cup (Rochester Institute of Technology)

• Cardiac Surgery Excellence Award (HealthGrades)

• Outstanding Achievement Award (American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer)

• "Best in Hearts" Designation (HealthGrades)

• Consumer Preference/Patient Satisfaction

• Consumer Choice Award (National Research Corporation)

• Patient Satisfaction Award (Arbor and Associates)

• Top 100 Integrated Healthcare Network (Verispan)

• Lincoln Award for Excellence (Lincoln Award for Performance Excellence)

• Governor's Family Investment Award (State of Illinois)

• Gold Award of Well Workplace USA (Wellness Councils of America)

• Illinois Healthy Worksite — Gold Level (Illinois Department of Public Health)

• Platinum Level Fit-Friendly Worksite (American Heart Association)

O.F. Nilson’s original $1 gift eventually resulted in the establishment of the SwedishAmerican Foundation — a philanthropic arm that promotes excellence in health care and compassionate service throughout northern Illinois. Gifts to the Foundation can be unrestricted, benefiting SwedishAmerican’s areas of greatest need or chosen by the donor to support a specific area.