Deaconess Illinois Breaks Ground on New EMS Building in Marion
Investment strengthens rural access to care and interfacility patient transport across Southern Illinois
Marion, IL — Leaders from Deaconess Illinois, the City of Marion and the surrounding community gathered in the morning on Friday, February 20 to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Deaconess Illinois EMS Building at 3333 DeYoung Street in Marion, Illinois.
Located right on the campus of Deaconess Illinois Medical Center, the new facility marks a significant investment in strengthening interfacility transport services and expanding access to care for patients across rural Southern Illinois. By positioning the EMS building directly on the hospital campus, Deaconess Illinois is enhancing coordination, efficiency and seamless patient movement between Deaconess hospitals and care sites throughout the region.
“This new EMS facility represents our continued commitment to expanding access to high-quality care across Southern Illinois,” said Amanda Throgmorton, Chief Operating Officer of Deaconess Illinois. “For rural communities especially, timely access to the right level of care can make all the difference. By investing in this interfacility transport service and locating it directly on our hospital campus, we are strengthening our ability to keep patients closer to home while ensuring they receive the specialized services they need.”
The Deaconess Illinois EMS team plays a vital role in transporting patients between facilities, supporting continuity of care and improving overall patient outcomes. As the healthcare needs of rural communities continue to evolve, the new EMS building will provide dedicated space for crews, equipment and operations, allowing the service to grow alongside the region.
“Our team is focused every day on safely and efficiently transporting patients between Deaconess facilities so they can receive the appropriate level of care,” said Todd Test, Deaconess Illinois EMS Manager. “This new building gives our crews the infrastructure they need to respond quickly, coordinate seamlessly with hospital teams and continue delivering dependable service across Southern Illinois. It’s an investment not only in our EMS professionals, but in the patients and families we serve.”
Construction on the new Deaconess Illinois EMS Building is expected to begin immediately, with completion anticipated in April 2026. Additional project updates will be shared as construction progresses.
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 22 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.
