Advertise on podcast: Well Within Reach with Riverside Healthcare

Kankakee resident Ray Balkcom was experiencing chest tightness on Thanksgiving Day. After receiving stents, doctors found a spot on his lung. Immediately referred to Riverside Cancer Institute, Ray and his team of providers developed a treatment plan specific to his journey.

How soon should you expect blood pressure medicine to lower your numbers? Liz Deck, FNP-BC, BC-ADM, CDCES, DNP, Advanced Practice Provider at Riverside Healthcare, explains most medications take about two to six weeks to show effect. Learn home monitoring tips (use a cuff with your arm at heart level), when to return for follow-up and labs to check kidney function, and what to do if a medicine isn’t tolerated or needs adjustment.  Learn more about Liz Deck, FNP-BC, BC-ADM, CDCES, DNP

"How does the flu vaccine work and help me?" Influenza vaccination. Tammie Henderson, FNP-C, Primary Care Provider at Riverside Healthcare, explains how the vaccine introduces a weakened version of the virus (not live) so your body builds antibodies. Hear about reduced risk (about 40–60% in a well-matched season), shorter illness duration, milder symptoms if you still get sick, and common post-vaccine reactions like arm soreness or low-grade fever.  Learn more about Tammie Henderson

Worried your injury will take longer to heal or leave lasting limits? Mitch Cronk, PT, DPT, CLT, Outpatient Rehab Manager at Riverside Healthcare, explains which clinic technologies may help and when they're used. He walks through blood flow restriction (with Doppler-guided cuffs) for muscle strengthening after surgeries like ACL repair; vestibular infrared goggles and nystagmus recording for vertigo evaluation; stroboscopy for visualizing vocal cord motion in speech concerns; the solo step harness for safe gait training after stroke, brain injury, or spine issues; SaeboArm systems to provide repetitive assisted arm movements after neurological injury; and the BioDeck to quantify balance and track concussion recovery against normative sway data. Throughout, he emphasizes that these tools supplement therapist expertise, support individualized treatment plans, and are available across Riverside clinics to increase access to specialized rehab services.

Worried a small infection could suddenly become sepsis? Melinda Mattox, RN, SCRN, CPHQ, Quality Improvement Coordinator at Riverside Healthcare, explains how routine infections like pneumonia, urinary tract infections, or cuts can sometimes trigger a dangerous, body-wide immune response. Listeners will better understand the immune dysregulation behind sepsis, why prompt treatment of infections matters, the role of wound care and primary care, and why Sepsis Awareness Month emphasizes early recognition.

Are inpatient units changing, and what does that mean for care? April Balzhiser, MA, LCPC, ICDVP, Director Inpatient Behavioral Health at Riverside Healthcare, explains Riverside’s investment in modern behavioral health spaces and why local services matter. She discusses outdated public perceptions versus today’s voluntary, evidence-based, short-term stays focused on whole-person healing; clinical reasons for admission (safety risks, failure of ADLs, medication titrations); and specific design upgrades—circadian lighting to support sleep-wake cycles, nature-inspired pillars, and sound-absorbing ceiling panels—that reduce overstimulation and improve cognition. April also highlights how keeping behavioral health services in the community strengthens overall public health and how to reach Riverside’s 24/7 central intake at 844-442-2551 for help.

When should I worry that my child's nonstop energy is more than normal? Federico Herrera, MD, FAAP, Pediatrician at Riverside Healthcare's Pediatric Specialists Bradley Office, explains how ADHD is defined and diagnosed. You'll learn the difference between hyperactive, inattentive, and combined types, why symptoms must appear in more than one setting, the preschool "gray area," and what signs at home and school should prompt an evaluation.

What should I prepare and expect during the first weeks at home with a newborn? Zain Talukdar, MD, Pediatrician at Riverside Healthcare, gives a practical roadmap covering gear, safety, and medical red flags. He lists essentials (firm crib or bassinet with cotton sheets, car seat, diapers, rectal thermometer, gentle detergent, milk storage and bottle brushes, diaper paste), explains safe-sleep ABCs and notes the U.S. context (roughly 3,500 infant deaths yearly tied to SIDS/SUID), and reviews infection-control steps for visitors (handwashing, limiting the inner circle, no kissing, TDAP and flu for close contacts, and smoke precautions). He outlines newborn-visit checks — weight, head circumference, feeding assessment, jaundice monitoring, and postpartum depression screening for parents — and when to seek urgent care (rectal temp >100.4°F or 97°F, marked lethargy, poor feeding, or inconsolable crying). He also clarifies timing for outings (be cautious in the first month; after one month use shared decision-making with your pediatrician; 2–3 months opens more options) and corrects common myths like adding water or cereal to feeds and the mistaken fear that back-sleeping causes choking. The episode emphasizes trusting your instincts and calling your pediatrician when unsure.

Snigdha Kalidindi, MD, Sports Medicine at Riverside Healthcare, reviews common fall sports injuries, explains step‑by‑step prevention, and when to take action.  Learn more about Dr. Kalidindi

Denise Salem, Oncology Chaplain at Riverside Healthcare, explains how pastoral care adds an extra layer of support alongside medical treatment by providing a listening presence, spiritual resources when wanted, and practical help for families and staff. She describes outpatient chaplain visits at the Riverside Cancer Institute and infusion clinics in Bourbonnais, Watseka, Frankfort, and Coal City; the non‑proselytizing, faith‑inclusive nature of chaplaincy; and common issues addressed—including fear of the unknown, guilt, loneliness, and the modern problem of “cancer ghosting.” Salem shares examples of how caregivers and friends can show up—daily texts, group devotions, or small creative gestures—how chaplains help patients identify reasons to hope (trusted medical teams, future milestones), and why adaptability and meeting patients where they are are central to effective pastoral care.

Should you mention vague symptoms to your PCP or wait them out? Beverly Stein, Patient at Riverside Healthcare, explains how an established relationship with her primary care provider led to listening, targeted tests, and a referral. She highlights the importance of being heard, coordinated care among Riverside teams, support from clinic staff, and how that teamwork sped diagnosis and treatment planning.

What should I expect during the postpartum "fourth trimester"? Bridgette Macander, MSN, RN, CNL, Registered Nurse in the Riverside Family Birthing Center at Riverside Healthcare, explains what normal recovery can look like and how long it may last. You’ll learn about typical bleeding (even after a C‑section), emotional ups and downs, newborn sleep noises, and practical self-care like hydration, nutrition, rest, and using hospital nursery support during the first days at home.

Concerned about who will manage your care during labor, for a sick child, or after hospital admission? Hospitalist roles across services — Ellen Bollino, RN, MSN, CEN, Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer at Riverside Healthcare, explains the inpatient AIM hospitalist model (11 core physicians, week-on/week-off coverage, always at least one on site), the pediatric hospitalist partnership with University of Chicago for newborn and pediatric admissions and ED consults, and the newer OB hospitalist (OBHG) hybrid model that covers about 20 days per month and provides 24-hour in‑house support for labor, deliveries and C‑sections. She discusses how Epic and direct phone communication link hospitalists with your primary care and specialists, how nurses and hospitalists share coordination duties, and what families can expect at admission, during rounds, and at discharge to ensure continuity of care.  Learn more about Ellen Bollino

This episode breaks down what prediabetes is, how it differs from type 2 diabetes, and why early detection and lifestyle change matter for preventing long-term complications. Dr. Santhosh Bhatt, DO, board certified in internal medicine, explains tests, risk factors, and practical steps you can take. You’ll hear clear guidance on A1C and fasting glucose testing, insulin resistance, Mediterranean-style eating, and simple exercise strategies for diabetes prevention. To learn more about primary care at Riverside or to book an appointment, visit riversidehealthcare.org or myrhc.net/acceptingnew.  Learn more about Santosh Bhat, DO