Change of plan: OSF halts relocation of OB from Ottawa to Peru
In the rural community of Ottawa, the importance of healthcare services has been a vital part of the town's history for over a century. However, a recent development has caused concern among residents and local groups, as OSF HealthCare plans to transfer obstetrics (OB) and intensive care unit (ICU) services from Ottawa to Peru under their regional model of care.
The controversy has taken a turn, as OSF HealthCare has temporarily postponed the move of inpatient OB services from Ottawa to Peru. This decision comes due to a delay in the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board's consideration of their application and public concerns raised by residents of eastern La Salle County.
In detail, inpatient OB services will continue at OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa until the state review board reviews and acts on the application, which is expected by November. This delay has pushed back the original plan for a Peru OB opening on August 18, 2025.
Despite this setback, the new ICU and full medical/surgical units in Peru are still scheduled to open on August 18, 2025. However, ICU services in Ottawa will continue until the board's November meeting, and intermediate care beds planned for Ottawa are on hold.
OSF HealthCare aims to maintain coordinated, high-quality regional care, including prenatal and postnatal services and specialty care across locations, supplemented by virtual and remote healthcare options.
The controversy also involves significant community opposition and legal scrutiny. A local watchdog group, Citizens for Healthcare in Ottawa, has formally requested an investigation by the Illinois Attorney General into OSF’s consolidation plan, citing concerns over OSF’s growing healthcare monopoly and the negative impact on Ottawa’s high-performing hospital services, including maternity and critical care.
Ottawa’s hospital currently has strong safety and quality metrics, such as an “A” rating from the Leapfrog Group, making the proposed reductions particularly contentious among residents and officials.
Colleen Burns, a representative of Citizens for Healthcare in Ottawa, has presented data showing more patients in the eastern part of OSF's I-80 region living in Ottawa. This data supports the maintenance of OB services in Ottawa.
In summary, the transfer of OB and ICU services from Ottawa to Peru is currently paused, with inpatient OB services maintained in Ottawa until regulatory approval is secured, amid community opposition and ongoing review by state authorities. The opening of inpatient OB services in Peru is delayed, while the opening of the full medical/surgical units and ICU at St. Elizabeth Medical Center-Peru is happening as planned.
Citizens for Healthcare in Ottawa supports the reopening and expansion of Peru’s hospital, but not at the expense of access to care in Ottawa. They advocate for maintaining current healthcare services in Ottawa, particularly OB services.
In light of the pending decision by the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board, the temporary postponement of the move of inpatient OB services from Ottawa to Peru has been implemented. This delay emphasizes the significance of science and healthcare services in Ottawa, as well as the heightened importance of medical-conditions and health-and-wellness for the town's residents, given the strong safety and quality metrics of Ottawa's hospital, particularly its maternity services.
