The City of Princeton voted at its August 5, 2019 meeting in favor of Perry Memorial Hospital formally beginning a process to consider a variety of partnership options with OSF HealthCare. Perry Memorial Hospital has been an independent affiliate of OSF HealthCare since 2007, and the two parties now have a Memorandum of Understanding, allowing for the Princeton hospital to have exclusive discussions with the Peoria-based system.
“We are pleased with the decision by the City Council to allow us to enter into exclusive conversations with our longtime affiliate,” said Bob Sehring, CEO, OSF HealthCare. “Together, we have cared for residents of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties for many years, and look forward to considering ways in which we may further our partnership with Perry Memorial to ensure residents’ health care needs continue to be met.”
“The support of the City of Princeton affirms our belief that OSF HealthCare is in the best position to partner with us to ensure health care for our community into the future,” said Annette Schnabel, DPT, MBA, FACHE, President and CEO of Perry Memorial Hospital. “OSF HealthCare is a leader in transforming health care and innovation, and we are excited to look at options that will ensure sustained quality, coordinated care and innovation moving forward.”
The August 5 City of Princeton vote was unanimous and the second part of a two-step process which would allow the two parties to enter into exclusive talks. Previously, the Perry Memorial Hospital Board voted in favor of exploring partnership options.
“The City recognizes that health care is transforming with significant advancements in technology beyond what we have seen in the past,” said Joel Quiram, Princeton Mayor. "The ability to participate in this innovation is an important point of consideration for our conversations going forward. We believe we are being proactive in looking at the future now. We recognize that certain components of health care come with the personal touch, and we are determined to deliver that aspect of care to our community for decades to come.”
The initial phase of information gathering, sharing, and planning could take up to one year. Additional information will be released when it becomes available.
About Perry Memorial Hospital:
Perry Memorial Hospital is a municipally-owned hospital located in Bureau County that dates back to 1903. The 25-bed critical access facility is one of Bureau County’s largest employers with a workforce of over 370 people.
About OSF HealthCare:
OSF HealthCare is an integrated health system owned and operated by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, headquartered in Peoria, Illinois. OSF HealthCare employs nearly 21,000 Mission Partners (employees) in 126 locations, including 13 hospitals – nine acute care, four critical access – and two colleges of nursing. Its physician network employs more than 1,200 primary care, specialist physicians, and advanced practice providers.