Private Practice Physicians, Clinics & Medical Service

Rockford Nephrology Associates

Nephrology is the medical specialty that diagnoses and treats diseases of the kidneys.

Kidney disease affects 1 in 7 people (approximately 37 million) in the United States and may result from causes such as diabetes, hypertension, polycystic kidney disease, glomerulonephritis or obstructions of the urinary tract.

The most well-known function of the kidneys is to act as filters to form urine containing waste products from the body. However, the kidneys are also responsible for certain hormone secretion, which can affect the production of red blood cells and promote absorption of calcium.

The kidneys also help with fluid and acid-base balance, blood pressure control and glucose production. Therefore, anemia, high blood pressure, Vitamin D deficiency, and fluid and electrolyte imbalances are also monitored and treated by the nephrology team.

At Rockford Nephrology Associates, 10 board-certified nephrologists and five nurse practitioners provide consultative services and follow-up visits, which along with lab and radiology testing help to diagnose kidney disease and determine the best quality treatment options.

Education is key to understanding the disease and preparing to make treatment choices at each stage.

RNA and NKF of Illinois are hosting a free kidney and diabetes screening on Sept. 17, at the main RNA office.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call (815) 227-8300.

Dr. Sarah Hagarty

(815) 240-0900, drsarahhagarty.com

1235 N. Mulford Road, Ste. 200, Rockford

Van Matre Encompass Health Rehab

(815) 381-8500, encompasshealth.com/vanmatrerehab

950 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, IL

Discover renewed independence at Van Matre Encompass Health Rehabilitation Institute.

Getting back to your routine and the activities you love can be physically and emotionally challenging after experiencing a life-altering illness or injury like stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury or hip fracture.

Van Matre Encompass Health Rehabilitation Institute unique approach to rehabilitation involves a team of experts with extensive experience in today’s most advanced therapeutic methods and technologies to help patients return to their communities safer and stronger.

Team Approach: An important key to success in rehabilitation is Van Matre Encompass Health’s team approach. The hospital is equipped with a diverse team of experts working together to best benefit each patient.

Targeted Treatment Plans: Each patient’s treatment plan is designed to accomplish his or her therapeutic goals through a sequence of measurable and achievable steps. The hospital team works with each patient to tailor a plan with the patient’s medical and personal goals in mind, while incorporating physical, cognitive and emotional needs.

Rehabilitation Technology: Healthcare is a technology-driven industry – especially rehabilitation. Van Matre Encompass Health offers advanced technologies that make regaining a certain skill quicker, safer and even more enjoyable at times.

When it comes to finding the best rehabilitation services, be sure to understand the differences in available rehabilitation options. Van Matre Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital is proud to have served the Rockford community for 20 years.

Maintain Your Smile Dental

1110 S. Mulford Road, Rockford
(815) 398-3879, maintainyoursmile.com

1001 Lincoln Highway, Rochelle, Ill.
(815) 562-2030, maintainyoursmile.com

The central mission of Maintain Your Smile Dental is to provide care that puts the patient first.

Using the latest technologies, they seek to offer an accurate diagnosis at an affordable cost – and they’ll always discuss treatments and costs upfront.

Maintain Your Smile Dental is a full-service family dental practice that handles everything from routine cleanings and orthodontics to implant and restorative dentistry.

State-of-the-art 5-D scanners help to reduce the need for X-ray radiation and messy impressions while boosting the ability to visualize what’s happening in each patient’s mouth. A new, on-site mill produces lab-quality crowns right in-house, further reducing costs and increasing the speed at which patients can see results.

The seven dentists behind Maintain Your Smile boast a combined 100-plus years of experience in the field, and they’re well-known around the community. Dr. Todd Stern has led the practice for more than 15 years. Dr. John Halversen serves on the county board of health. Dr. Heather Shick ran Above & Beyond Dentistry before joining a few years ago. Dr. Marshall Valadez is a recent graduate. Dr. Lionel Gibson once worked at Crusader Clinic, and with the recent retirement of Dr. William Shold, the team welcomes Dr. David Feldhaus to the practice. Dr. Mike Wattles runs a satellite office in Rochelle, Ill., where the same gamut of services is available.

Mobility Connection

4100 E. State St., Rockford
(815) 965-8090, rockfordmobility.com

Mobility Connection Inc. has been committed to providing personal freedom and independence to its clients for 30 years. Through a large selection of mobility products and equipment, they work on an individual basis to find the perfect solution to specific mobility needs.

Mobility Connection sells new and used wheelchair-accessible vans. If it’s not on the lot, staff members can help you find what you need. Other driver and passenger aids include transfer seats, hand controls and tie-down systems. All staff members will try to work within set budgets.

The showroom has a large display of products that can aid all aspects of mobility, and helpful staff can answer your questions about making your or your loved one’s life easier and fulfilled.

Many hard-to-find, small items for simple solutions to daily living challenges can be found there.

Mobility scooters, power wheelchairs and manual wheelchairs can help clients “on the go,” while lift chairs assist with the extra boost one may need. Portable, threshold and modular ramps are also available. Stairlifts are another product that can help inside the home. Most modular ramp systems and stairlifts can be installed within 10 business days.

This locally owned small business has been serving the northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin area for more than 30 years. The Assisted Technology Professional (ATP) and staff are prepared to help with all of your mobility needs. Call for an appointment or drop in to visit the showroom.

Northern Illinois Retina

1235 N. Mulford Road, Ste. 100, Rockford, (815) 226-4990, niretina.com

Recognized as one of 2019-2020 Best Doctors in America in the Field of Ophthalmology.Since 1990, we have been providing state-of-the-art university-level care to patients with vitreoretinal disorders locally, on a full time basis. We are known for our convenient modern office, patient-oriented service and our compassionate care.

Dr. Susan Fowell is an ophthalmologist who specializes in the diagnosis and surgery of diseases of the vitreous and the retina. Fowell graduated college from Northwestern University, in Evanston, Ill., with Summa Cum Laude honors and was elected into Phi Beta Kappa honor society. She then graduated from Northwestern University’s McGaw Medical School in Chicago and was elected into the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. She completed an internship in internal medicine, a residency in ophthalmology and a fellowship in vitreoretinal disease – all at Northwestern University in Chicago. She began her practice in Rockford in 1990.

She is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmolgy and is a Life Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and is a Fellow of the American Society of Retinal Surgeons (ASRS). She has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals, attends two major CME meetings per year, and offers state-of-the-art university-level care on a full-time basis to Rockford and surrounding communities.

Practice at Northern Illinois Retina is limited to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the back portion of the eye, the retina, macula and vitreous. These include macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, macular hole, epiretinal membrane and uveitis. Diagnostic procedures performed in the office include Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), OCT angiography and fluorescein angiography. In-office surgical treatment includes laser photocoagulation, cryopexy of retinal tears and pneumatic retinopexy for retinal detachment, and intravitreal injections of Avastin, Lucentis 0.3 and 0.5, Eylea, Vabysmo, and Ozurdex.

Patients are usually referred by other ophthalmic and optometric colleagues, but if you have concerns or questions, visit niretina.com and click on the education tab to learn more about specific eye conditions affecting the retina and their treatment.

Rockford Ambulatory Surgery Center

1016 Featherstone Road, Rockford, (815) 226-3300, rockfordambulatory.com

S pecializing in elective outpatient surgical and pain procedures, Rockford Ambulatory provides patients and surgeons with a quiet, stable environment for operations. Because it’s not a hospital, patients are discharged to recover in the quiet and comfort of their homes.

Rockford Ambulatory’s network of surgeons includes all three Rockford hospitals and experts from around the region. Surgery is all that Rockford Ambulatory does, so the facility is an efficient and cost-effective alternative to the hospital.

At Rockford Ambulatory, every patient is carefully screened to ensure their safety and to minimize the risk of an infection. The center maintains a 0.1% infection rate.
High-tech equipment and five fully equipped operating rooms allow surgeons at Rockford Ambulatory to perform a variety of procedures.

Some of the most common include removal of cataracts, hernias, tonsils and gall bladders; laparoscopies; plastic surgeries; foot surgeries; and ear tube implants. Pain management treatments, including spinal cord stimulation and radio frequency ablation, also are available.
This year, nearly 5,000 patients will choose a different way to do surgery. Discover what makes Rockford Ambulatory an effective alternative.

Elite Spine & Wellness Center

6833 Stalter Dr., Ste. 203, Rockford (815) 904-6650

Dr. Brittany Sullivan earned a bachelor’s degree from Rockford College, now known as Rockford University, before attending Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida. She then moved back home to begin her career.

After working as an independent chiropractor for nearly 10 years, Sullivan has branched out on her own. She opened her new Elite Spine & Wellness Center location in January 2021 at 6833 Stalter Dr., Ste. 203 in Rockford.

Sullivan works with patients who suffer from any type of pain in the neck, back and extremities, including muscle strains, misalignments, arthritis and lifting injuries. She also specializes in Cox Flexion/Distraction, a technique that helps to decompress the spine, especially when treating disc injuries.

Among her various approaches to chiropractic care, Sullivan performs manual adjustments, though she also uses the Activator method, where a unique hand-held tool allows her to do adjustments with low force.

After taking a full medical history and completing a thorough examination, Sullivan works with her patients to tailor the treatment plan to each individual’s needs.

“We start with acute care,” she says. “We’ll do adjustments and passive therapies like muscle stimulation, ultrasound and massage just to keep their pain down. Once their pain improves, we’ll do rehabilitative treatment.”

When she’s not practicing, Sullivan spends her time with her son, Declan, and her husband, Matt.

Stewart Family Dental

1393 S. Alpine Road, Rockford, (815) 397-5615, stewartfamilydental.com

Since 1984, Stewart Family Dental has been serving the Rockford region as a local, family-owned dental office. A full range of dental services is available, including denture fabrication, cosmetic dentistry and oral surgery. The office also provides convenient care with same-day and emergency services. Staff members are licensed and insured for your protection.

Stewart Family Dental provides personalized care to patients in a family-friendly environment.

Patients can keep gum disease at bay and maintain good oral health by scheduling regular checkups. The compassionate and caring staff can treat the whole family to maintain healthy gums and teeth with regular dental exams and teeth cleanings.

Patients can also make their smile unforgettable with teeth whitening services, tooth-colored fillings, crowns/bridges and other affordable cosmetic dentistry services. The staff can also correct dental issues such as gaps, chips, irregular shaping and more.

Stewart Family Dental also provides quality dentures to enhance a patient’s appearance and improve their ability to eat. The dentures are natural looking, durable and custom made for a patient’s mouth.

To accommodate patients, Stewart Family Dental accepts most dental insurance plans. The office is a Delta Dental Premier provider and accepts CareCredit. To schedule an appointment or a free denture consultation, call (815) 397-5615.

Comfort Keepers

4855 E. State St., Ste. 22, Rockford, (815) 229-9100

Caring for the whole person is right at the center of Comfort Keepers’ interactive caregiving philosophy. It’s a holistic approach that cares for the mind, body, spirit and well-being. Instead of just doing for your loved ones, Comfort Keepers uses every moment to do with them. Trained experts elevate your loved one’s sense of purpose and control, and try turning little tasks into memorable moments.

Comfort Keepers incorporates technology to help elders connect with family and savor memories. Interactive caregiving means that care coordinators assess a senior’s well-being and inform family members at every step.

Every person has an inner spark. It’s something age and illness cannot take away. At Comfort Keepers, experts go beyond daily care needs to nurture those unique qualities and bring about a sense of hope, connectedness, purpose, and most importantly, joy. It’s about helping elders reclaim all that life has to offer. This is precisely what elevating the human spirit is all about. When people’s spirits lift, research shows they feel better, live longer and experience life more fully.

Elevating Spirits for 20 Years
Comfort Keepers has been elevating the lives of seniors for more than 20 years. As a trusted resource for helping Americans stay in their homes as they age, Comfort Keepers offers companionship and personal care to aid clients, helping them to achieve and live their best quality of life.

Services include:
-Companion care including light housekeeping, laundry, medication reminders, socialization and activities.
-Personal care such as grooming, bathing, transferring, toileting and incontinence care.
Daily nutrition, meal preparation and hydration.
-Transportation by caregivers for shopping, errands, family outings, doctor/pharmacy visits.
-Advanced care with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and specialized services.
-Technology to engage and keep seniors socially active, connected and safe, plus providing transparency of care to family and care teams.