The History of OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center – Peru
For more than 100 years, the hospital now known as OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center – Peru has been a trusted source of care for the Illinois Valley community. From its beginnings as Peoples Hospital in 1914 to its many expansions and service additions through the decades has continually evolved to meet the needs of the region.
Today, with its two campuses in Peru and Ottawa, OSF HealthCare Saint Elizabeth Medical Center, it carries forward a long tradition of service and renewal.
The Beginning
1912: The Peru Hospital Association announced plans for a four-story hospital to be located on West Street.
1914: The Peoples Hospital and nurses training school opened.
1940s & 1950s
1940: The northeast wing was constructed, adding 12 patient rooms.
1957: A new entrance, lobby and reception area were added to the People’s Hospital.
1970s
1975: The People’s Hospital was renamed Illinois Valley Community Hospital (IVCH) after merging with St. Mary’s Hospital of LaSalle, Illinois.
1979: A new 80-bed wing was dedicated.
1979: All hospital activities and patient records were transferred to Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru after the LaSalle Division of IVCH was closed.
1979: The Illinois Valley Community Hospital’s new facilities were dedicated.
1980s
1980: The auxiliary began volunteer services at IVCH, delivering mail to patients in the morning and transporting patients to their room in the afternoon and early evenings.
1981: A community open house was held for the newly completed ICU.
1984: A state-of-the-art, fourth-generation CT scanner was installed. The new technology offered better image quality and less radiation exposure to patients.
1985: A joint venture collaboration committee was formed with Illinois Valley Community Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital in Spring Valley, Illinois.
1986: A medical office building opened near the hospital on West Street.
1987: Hospice services were offered.
1988: Echocardiography services were offered to identify a variety of heart-related conditions.
1988: A Volun-Teens program was organized to give teenagers the chance to work in a hospital setting.
1988: The Omega Unit, a regional psychiatric facility, was established.
1990s
1990: A new film/screen mammography unit was installed that was designed to limit radiation exposure to patients.
1992: Illinois Valley Adult Day Center, affiliated with Illinois Valley Community Hospital, opened at 1020 Second Ave., in LaSalle.
1993: Illinois Valley Community Hospital started Family Home Medical Equipment as an addition to the Family Pharmacy.
1994: An open house was held for the newly remodeled obstetrics unit that included two new birthing rooms, a redecorated nursey and a new nurses’ station.
1994: The 167-foot glass enclosed skybridge was opened that connected IVCH and the West Street medical office building.
1995: A second floor was added to the medical building, along with a parking garage.
1996: OSF HealthCare and Illinois Valley Community Hospital affiliated to provide quality, cost-effective health care.
1996: Cardiopulmonary stress testing services were added.
1997: Plans were announced for a two-phase construction project, with phase I creating a new emergency room and patient registration area. Phase II included an expansion of the ambulatory surgery area.
2000s
2000: The Women’s Health Center was opened at Illinois Valley Community Hospital.
2003: The east addition expansion project was dedicated.
2006: An open house was held for the new, 15,500-square-foot Center for Physical Rehabilitation and Aquatics in the Miller Building at the Illinois Valley YMCA in Peru, Illinois.
2007: IVCH added a new medical office building in Oglesby, Illinois.
2009: Plans were announced for a $15.5 million, third-floor addition over the east wing to accommodate new obstetrics and ICU units and a partial fourth-floor addition for mechanicals and a new helipad.
2010s
2010: An IVCH FastCare walk-in medical clinic was opened in the Peru Walmart. Staffed with nurse practitioners, the clinic helps with minor conditions.
2011: Patients were moved to the new ICU and OB units.
2013: Construction began on the 2,400-square-foot IVCH Wound and Hyperbaric Center located on the corner of 6th and Plum Streets in Peru.
2014: Illinois Valley Community Hospital celebrated 100 years of service to the community with an open house and a time capsule.
2020s
2021: Illinois Valley Community Hospital became St. Margaret’s Health-Peru, after merging with St. Margaret’s Hospital, Spring Valley. Both entities were governed by SMP Health.
2023: St. Margaret’s Health-Peru closed.
2023: OSF HealthCare announced that the Peru facility would operate as a second campus of OSF HealthCare Saint Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa.
2024: A full-service Occupational Health office opened at 1412 Midtown Road in Peru.
2024: OSF HealthCare Cardiovascular Institute opened an office at 920 West St. in Peru.
2024: Plans were announced to add seven surgical beds and four intensive care beds at a cost of $5.59 million.
2024: A blessing and dedication ceremony was held with a ribbon cutting at the newly renovated main entrance and Bishop Tylka was on hand to bless the facility.
2024: An OSF Wound Clinic opened on 6th Street in Peru