1. Photo Recap: 10 Images of Move-In Day
2. Four Fantastic Aerial Photos
3. Seven Interior Photos of the New Hospital
4. Update: Community Open House Celebration
5. Eight Aerial Photos of the New Hospital
6. Complete Details on the New Hospital
7. Geothermal Energy: How Does It Work?
8. Four New Exterior Photos of the New Hospital
9. A Springtime Walk Around the Geothermal Lake
10. The Future of Sherman Health’s New Café

But don’t worry, we’re still blogging elsewhere! Visit these sites and blogs to keep up with health news, tips, community events, and Sherman news:

• Sherman Health dot com
• Sherman Health blog
• Heart blog

Since we knew diners would spend a good deal of their meal looking out at the 15-acre lake, we thought we’d explain a few geothermal facts. And since geothermal technology is new to people, why not use an interesting new technology to help people learn more about it as they dine? So we have put QR Codes on table tents in the cafe.

What’s a QR Code, you might wonder? It’s a black and white image that works like a Bar Code with a smart phone. Using QR Code application, you can use your smartphone to take a picture of the QR Code, which will launch a web page in your smartphone’s browser. The QR Code on the Sherman cafe table tents takes you to a page that tells you more about the geothermal lake and how it works.

QR Codes are everywhere in Japan (on billboards, building signage, and even on fast food packaging), and they are a simple way to connect print with mobile technology. People scan QR Codes on building signage for a map of how to get somewhere within the building. They scan billboards for a link to coupons. They scan fast food packaging for nutrition information. QR Codes have just started showing up in the US recently, and use of them may spread as smartphones grow in popularity. For now, we decided to have fun with QR Codes to give our smartphone-using diners a new way to interact with the geothermal lake.

So if you have a smartphone, come by the Sherman cafe to check out how QR Codes work. Also, visit ShermanHealth.com from your smartphone to see our new mobile site, which lets you view hospital floorplans, send an ecard to a patient, find a physician, and more.

Sherman at Sunset. Click the image for high-res options.

Sherman Health: You mentioned you captured the shot as part of the Elgin 1440 photography project. Can you explain what the project is?

James Jordan: Elgin 1440 is a community photography project sponsored by the Cultural Art Commission. Photographers are encouraged to use all 1,440 minutes in a day to capture a 24 hour period in the life of Elgin. Selected photos are displayed at the Hemmens. This year’s event – the fifth annual – was held on May 16, and the theme was “Iconic Elgin.” I had already been shooting since 5:00 that morning and was racking my brain trying to think of a place to shoot around sunset. My wife said, “What about Sherman Hospital?” Duh. Of course!

Sherman: How long have you been a photographer? Do you do it professionally? As a hobby?

James: I took up photography as a hobby about fifteen years ago, starting with landscape photography. I was fortunate enough to sell some of my photos to regional travel guides, web sites and private collections. I had it in the back of my mind to develop my hobby into a profession. Losing my day job in September 2008 brought it to the front of my mind quickly. I’ve been shooting professionally since then. In fact, I was hired by Sherman to help photograph the grand opening gala and the moving day. I was stationed at the Center Street facility covering the departure of patients to the new location.

Sherman: I’ve heard photography is kind of like fishing: the best time to do it is as the sun’s rising and setting. Is this true? And did you take the photo as the sun was setting?

James: Very true. The light is softer and warmer at those times of day. The photo of the hospital was taken within a minute or so of sunset that day, although the clouds hid the sun. And like a fisherman, you sometimes have to wait a long time for things to happen. I waited about a half hour for the light in the sky to balance with the lights in and around the building.

Sherman: What camera did you use to capture the shot? Is it your go-to camera?

James: I used a Nikon D90, which is my go-to camera these days. I used a wide angle zoom set at 14mm to get the expanse of sky and the geothermal lake.

Sherman: Is there a place on the globe you’ve visited that gave you particularly memorable photographs?

James: Door County, Wisconsin is a “can’t miss” kind of a place for me personally. I go there several times a year. Many of my best shots were captured there. (Note: See a sampling of James’ Door County photos by clicking here)

One of James' Door County photos. I had trouble picking just one.

Sherman: Do you have any influences/favorite photographers? If so, what do you admire about them?

James: I’ve been influenced by many photographers. Ansel Adams’ landscapes have long been an inspiration for their meticulous details and dramatic lighting. Joe McNally, a longtime shooter for National Geographic, is a master of people photography. I’ve been putting a lot of his ideas to work in shooting portraits and events.

Sherman: Were you on the walking path at Sherman when you took the photo? What did you think of the path?

James: I wanted to frame the hospital against the sky, so I walked along the path until I got an angle that worked for what I wanted to do. It was a lovely and peaceful place to be and obviously affords some great views. I also appreciated the occasional sign that offered a tidbit of information about Sherman.

If you’d like to get in touch with James, visit his website, jamesjordanphoto.com

Q: What is their mission?

A: The Sunrise Life Center, and services within, was developed to help individuals with cancer look good, improve their self-esteem, and manage their treatment and recovery with greater confidence.

Q: What is the Look Good, Feel Better program?

A: It is a national public service program to help women offset appearance-related changes from cancer treatment. Sherman will hold the program once every two to three months, with the next program on May 24, 1-3pm. To learn more about upcoming programs, you can ask any ACS volunteer in the Cancer Care Center, review the brochures in the Cancer Care Center or call the American Cancer Society at 630-879-9009.

Each two-hour, hands-on workshop organized by the ACS includes a 12-step skin care/make-up application lesson, demonstration of options for dealing with hair loss, and nail care techniques by a ACS trained cosmetologists. Patients in various stages of treatment receive makeover tips and personal attention from professionals trained to meet their needs. They also use and take home complimentary cosmetic kits in their appropriate skin tones (light, medium, dark, extra dark) with helpful instruction booklets ($200 value). Professional advice is provided on wigs, scarves and accessories.

Q: Is the Look Good, Feel Better program only for women? What do you have to offer men?

A: There is a separate program for men. It is a practical online guide to help men deal with some of the side-effects of cancer treatment including skin changes, hair loss, stress, and other issues. Created by the cosmetic industry in partnership with the American Cancer Society and the National Cosmetology Association, information on Look Good…Feel Better for Men is also available in a brochure in the Sunrise Life Center. Here’s a link to more information: Look Good, Feel Better for men

Q: Finally, what are some of the features of the Sunrise Life Center?

Patients can select free wigs, scarves and hats and obtain complimentary styling from trained ACS beauty volunteers, space to hold the ACS Look Good, Feel Better program where women receive make-up tips and a make-up kit ($200 value), and a mini gift shop stocked with bracelets, teddy bears, lotion and a variety of other items featuring the ribbons/colors of cancer awareness. Proceeds from these items are used to re-stock the gift shop.

When you enter, you can see the displays of gift shop items and a wig display. This is followed by a large mirror, in back for privacy, for wig styling and make-up consultations, and a changing room. In the future, we will provide free breast prosthesis from the ACS along with free fittings by a trained professional.