Nurse staffing Ratio: In an effort to maintain a safe environment for patient care, anyone can inquire about our staffing levels and core competencies by calling 815-664-1561 to make an appointment with the Vice-President of Nursing. All questions will be answered in accordance with the 2004 Illinois Report Card Act.

Visitors Information

Visiting Hours
The daily visiting hours are from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Due to patient care needs, the Intensive Care Unit, Family Birthing Centre, and pediatrics have special visiting hours. 

We request that our visitors: 

  • Use the main (north) entrance of the hospital whenever possible.  Free valet parking is available at the main entrance Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  For the security and safety of our patients and staff, the main entrance is locked at 8:00 p.m.  Any visitors leaving the hospital after 8:00 p.m. are asked to use the emergency room exit located on the ground floor.
  • Please limit visitors to two at one time in the patient’s room.
  • To ensure the privacy of our patients, we ask that you have a seat in the waiting area when the doctor is visiting the patient or at the request of the nurses when medical procedures are necessary.
  • Please consider not visiting patients if you have a fever, cough, or any other cold or flu symptoms or other infectious disease.
  • Because their physician may have prescribed a special diet for their patient, we ask that you please check with the patient’s physician or the nurses before bringing food to a patient.
  • For the safety of visitors and staff, visitors are asked to use the waiting areas when it is necessary to leave the patient’s room.
  • Children under 12 may visit patients with the supervision of an adult.
  • Preoperative and postoperative patients may have two family members stay with them through visiting hours on the day of surgery.

Auxiliary Gift Shop
Our gift shop, operated by St. Margaret’s Hospital Auxiliary, is staffed entirely by volunteers who are happy to assist you and your family in the selection of greeting cards, stationary, gift items, packaged candy, and other assorted items.