Comings & Goings: Orland Area Chamber installs new officers  

Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau installs new officers for the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce. 

Ramzi Hassan of Edwards Realty Company was installed last week as president of the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce.

The 2023 board of directors was also installed and annual membership awards were handed out during ceremonies last Thursday at the Crystal Tree Country Club.

Installation duties were performed by Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau.

Northwestern Palos Hospital breast health program earns national accreditation   

The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, a quality program administered by the American College of Surgeons, has granted accredited status to Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital and the Northwestern Medicine Breast Health Program in Orland Park. To achieve NAPBC accreditation, a breast center demonstrates compliance with the NAPBC standards addressing leadership, clinical services, research, community outreach, professional education, and quality improvement for patients. Breast centers seeking NAPBC accreditation undergo a site visit every three years.

“We are thrilled to be recognized by the NAPBC with this accreditation,” said Miraj Shah-Khan, MD, medical director of the breast cancer program at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital. “At Palos Hospital, we strive to provide patients with exceptional comprehensive breast cancer care from the moment they walk through the door.”

As a NAPBC-accredited center, Palos Hospital and the Breast Health Program are committed to maintaining levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive, patient-centered care for patients with breast disease. Patients can be confident their breast care team includes health care professionals from a variety of disciplines who are committed to working together to provide the highest quality care available through their entire course of treatment.

The NAPBC provides the structure and resources to develop and operate a high-quality breast center and accredited program. Patients receiving care through the Palos Hospital and the Breast Health Program have access to:

Comprehensive breast cancer screening, including three-dimensional mammography, breast magnetic resonance imaging, and automated breast ultrasound.

A multidisciplinary team of breast cancer experts who provide a full range of state-of-the-art services and leading-edge treatments.

Access to clinical trials, patient navigation support, supportive oncology services, genetic counseling, and novel treatment options.

High-risk breast clinic, providing comprehensive risk assessment and surveillance strategies for patients at elevated breast cancer risk. 

Savor the Southland rewards program 

The Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau has launched Savor The Southland, a new program that aims to reward users for visiting local restaurants.  

The passport is a free program that any user can sign up for. With over 67 local restaurants included within the passport, it showcases the best of the Chicago Southland in an easy, mobile-friendly way.  

“What a great way to encourage both visitors and locals alike to frequent some of the best Chicago Southland restaurants,” said CSCVB President/CEO Jim Garrett.  

Among the restaurants participating are Mama Luigi’s in Bridgeview, Jenny’s Steak House in Chicago Ridge, Chuck’s Southern Comfort Café in Burbank, Papa Joe’s in Orland Park and The Patio in Bridgeview and Orland Park. 

Guests can visit a dedicated mobile passport landing page  (https://www.visitchicagosouthland.com/savor-the-southland) where they can sign-up for Savor The Southland by providing their name, e-mail address and mobile phone number. A link is then sent to their mobile phone, which opens the passport and directs the user to add the button icon to their home screen, where they can access it any time. There is never anything to download and no bulky apps take up space on a user’s phone.  

Guests earn points when they check in at participating restaurants and can redeem coupons (when applicable) by sharing that coupon with their server.  

Non-CSCVB restaurants or breweries interested in joining the Savor The Southland passport can call the CVB at 708-895-8200.  

The Savor The Southland mobile passport ends March 31 at which time users that have checked in at five or more participating restaurants will be entered into a sweepstakes to win restaurant gift cards.   

If you see a new business in town or wonder what happened to an old favorite, drop me a line at bobbong@hotmail.com.