Major healthcare system is closer to bringing hospitals back to the Illinois Valley

PERU (25News Now) - OSF HealthCare said it is close to acquiring St. Margaret’s-Peru, with a possible opening date this fall.

In the past few months, we’ve been in Spring Valley and Peru to hear community reactions to the closures.

We spoke with one of the CEOs for OSF HealthCare Thursday morning who shared the company’s plans to re-open what they plan to call it: St. Elizabeth’s-Peru.

The company does not own the land or the hospital building yet, but it is in the works, according to West Region CEO August Querciagrossa.

The healthcare system also acquired three properties in June: The Midtown Clinic and Midtown Plaza in Peru, as well as the Granville Clinic which opens Monday.

These locations will have primary care and rehab services.

The CEO believed this will help shorten ambulance rides and drive times.

“When we think about rural healthcare moving forward, people have to drive,” said OSF’s August Querciagrossa. “It is a little different. But we’re talking 20 minutes to 25 minutes to get to a center, no matter where you live in the Illinois Valley.”

The company hired and is training more than 300 physicians and other medical providers from those who were laid off from the St. Margaret’s closures.

OSF did not acquire patient medical records from St. Margaret’s Health.

If you wish to seek services through OSF, the company encourages you to request your medical records and upload them to their website.

You can find that link here.

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