The Connected Communities Initiative (CCI) is a strategic partnership between OSF HealthCare and Illinois State University (ISU), focused on addressing healthcare challenges in central Illinois. This collaboration unites clinicians, faculty, researchers, and students to innovate in key areas such as clinical education, healthcare engineering, data science, and cybersecurity. The initiative prioritizes projects focused on enhancing patient experience, boosting workforce engagement, and addressing quality and safety in clinical care.

The CCI builds on the existing strong relationship between OSF HealthCare and ISU, particularly with the Mennonite College of Nursing. This expanded collaboration now includes a broader range of academic disciplines, offering students and faculty the opportunity to work on real-world projects that directly benefit the community. By fostering these interdisciplinary efforts, the CCI aims to generate innovative solutions that improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.