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Patient Resources

Helpful information for patients of Prairie Heart

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Prairie Cardiovascular is a national leader in providing high-quality, state-of-the-art heart and vascular care. Making an appointment with our world-class physicians and advanced practice clinicians (APC) couldn’t be easier.

Through our ACCESS Prairie program, your request for an appointment is sent securely to our team of highly trained cardiovascular nurses. They will provide you with personalized assistance in making an appointment with a physician and APC that is best suited to treat your individual heart and vascular needs.

After completing the form, a secure email will be sent to our team of ACCESS Prairie nurses.  You will receive a return call within two business days.

If you feel this is an emergency, please call 911.

By filling out the form, you agree to receive communication from Prairie Heart.

If you prefer to talk to someone directly, a nurse can be reached by dialing 217-757-6120.

Call 911. Do Not Drive.

Dial, Don't Drive

If you are experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack, Dial Don’t Drive. Please call 911 and wait for help.




This year alone, 1.2 million Americans will suffer a cardiac emergency. Unfortunately, about one third of these patients will die before they reach the hospital for one critical reason – a delay in receiving crucial medical treatment.

WHEN CHEST PAIN OCCURS, BE SMART – ALWAYS DIAL, NEVER DRIVE.

Far too many heart attack patients drive themselves or have a family member drive them to the hospital. Thankfully, there is a way to help reduce these devastating statistics. “It’s About Time” is a program developed by the Chest Pain Network of the Prairie Heart Institute of Illinois (PHII), connecting hospitals and EMS agencies for the fastest and best care for chest pain patients. Always call 911 for medical help – never drive yourself – when heart attack warning symptoms occur.

When experiencing the signs of a heart attack, every second you save can mean the difference between irreversible heart damage or a treatable condition, and even life or death. By dialing 911 first, treatment begins the moment emergency responders arrive. EMS professionals and other first responders can:

  • Assess your situation immediately
  • Instantly forward your vitals and EKG information to any hospital within The PHII Chest Pain Network
  • Administer treatment in the ambulance
  • Ensure the hospital heart team will be waiting and ready for your arrival
  • Effectively speed the time from heart attack symptom to treatment

Preparation Tips For Your Visit

Care Close to Your Home

Care Close to Your Home

We are blessed to live in a region with strong communities in which we feel comfortable and content. But when we have a heart problem that may require specialized care, it often means we are faced with the choice of leaving our community or worse, putting off care. This is not the case when your specialized care is provided by the Doctors of Prairie cardiologists. Our philosophy at Prairie Heart Institute is to deliver as much care as possible locally. If that is not possible, then and only then, will travel be recommended.

Be Sure We Have Your Medical Records

Be Sure We Have Your Medical Records

If your personal physician has referred you to Prairie Cardiovascular, he/she will either contact us by phone or send your records to our office. It is very important that we receive your medical records. Otherwise, your cardiologist will be unable to adequately evaluate you and it may be necessary to reschedule your appointment until those records are received. If you have referred yourself, you should contact your physician and arrange for your records to be sent to our office before your scheduled visit. Your past medical history is essential in diagnosis and treatment.
Bring All of Your Insurance Information and Your Driver’s License

Bring All of Your Insurance Information and Your Driver’s License

When you make an appointment with us, you will be asked for your insurance information that will then be verified by us prior to your appointment. You should bring your insurance card and your driver’s license to your first appointment. You can find out more about our financial policies by calling our Patient Finance Department.
Bring All of Your Medications

Bring All of Your Medications

Please bring all of your medications with you in their original containers when you come to the office. Make sure your doctor knows about every drug you are taking, including over-the-counter drugs and herbal medications as well. One drug may interact with another, in some cases creating serious medical problems.  You can find an easy form to list all of your medications here.

Fill out the New Patient Information Forms

Fill out the New Patient Information Forms

This information is very important and will expedite the process on your arrival to the office. Copies of your forms can be found below. If you cannot print out the forms, please call our office at 217-788-0706 and ask that the forms be mailed to you. Filling out/or viewing the forms before your appointment will save you time.
Your Examination: What to Expect

Your Examination: What to Expect

After you have filled out your registration and the registrar has your necessary personal information and insurance information, a nurse will take you back to an exam room where he or she will take your blood pressure and pulse.

The nurse will also take your medical history to find out not only what medications you’re taking but what, if any, allergies you might have; what kind of prior illnesses or injuries you may have suffered; and any operations or hospital stays you might have had.

You’ll also be asked about the health of your family including any hereditary conditions that might be related to your cardiac health. Finally, you’ll be asked about your marital status, employment and whether or not you use tobacco, alcohol or any drugs. It may help to write down all of your medical events and dates and bring this with you to your visit.

Once the nurse is finished, the cardiologist will meet with you to review your medical history and perform a physical examination. Following the exam, he or she will discuss his findings with you and your family and recommend any further testing or treatment plans. Please feel free to ask the cardiologist any questions you may have at this time. Our physicians utilize physician assistants and nurse practitioners who are specially trained in cardiovascular management to see patients on occasion. If that is the case, your visit will then be reviewed by your physician.
What Happens after the First Visit?

What Happens after the First Visit?

After your visit with the cardiologist, our office will forward all cardiac records, test results, and suggestions for treatment to your referring physician. In some cases, we may schedule additional tests that you will need to come back for. We have an array of tests and procedures—many of them non-invasive—at our fingertips that we didn’t have even 10 years ago to help us pinpoint problems and act on them quickly, well in advance of any cardiac incident.

If you have questions, please call your cardiologist’s nurse. Due to our volume of daily calls, every attempt will be made to return your call in a timely manner. Any call received after 4:00 p.m. will normally be returned the following business day. 

Request Medical Records

Please use one of the following options to request your medical records:

  • Request your medical records through MyPrairie
  • Contact Health Information Management (HIM) at 217-525-5615 for assistance
  • Stop by our office to complete a Release of Information form