CENTRALIA — It became official Monday, as Saint Mary’s Hospital in Centralia became SSM Health Saint Mary’s Hospital Centralia and Good Samaritan Regional Health Center in Mount Vernon became SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital Mount Vernon.

Regional Chief Executive Officer Phil Gustafson explained the change, “We have 19 hospitals in four states and they all did not have the same standards, expectations, policies and they wanted to get themselves standardized in these chaotic health care times.  They have an opportunity to learn from each other, so the name brings together a promise that they are going to deliver some different standards and quality in terms of what they have done in the past, as they combine it all from the 19 hospitals from what they have done with their staff in the past 3 to 4 years in making sure those services are there, that you are greeted well and that if you are lost, you will be found.  Basically to design the service around the patient.”

SSM Health also focuses on providing affordable and high-quality care to the community.  They will also be offering new convenient hours, as well as tools and information that patients need to stay healthy.  For more information on any of the SSM Health hospitals, visit ssmhealthillinois.com.