KEWANEE — The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board on Tuesday approved the Certificate of Exemption application of OSF Healthcare System for a change of ownership of Kewanee Hospital.

The approval means that the planned integration of Kewanee Hospital into OSF Healthcare can be finalized.

Kewanee Hospital will become OSF Saint Luke Medical Center on April 2, 2014, during a blessing and dedication ceremony with Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, as the scheduled presider.

Last Friday, the Board of Trustees at Kewanee Hospital met with leaders from OSF Healthcare System to choose the new name. Sister Diane Marie McGrew, OSF, president of OSF Healthcare System, led the team through the selection process, with the board voting for OSF Saint Luke Medical Center.

“The process for choosing the name was very special to our board and our executive team,” said Lynn Fulton, CEO of Kewanee Hospital. “It was an opportunity for OSF to share an important part of their ministry with Kewanee Hospital as well as highlight our new future as part of the OSF Healthcare System.”

Many know St. Luke as the patron saint of physicians.

Kevin Schoeplein, CEO of OSF Healthcare System, expressed gratitude for the review board’s approval of plans.

“We are gratified by the level of support received for this endeavor from our medical staffs, including independent physicians who serve our patients and the community and from business leaders and our elected officials,” said Schoeplein. “We all share a vision for the future of transforming health care to improve the lives of those we serve.”
Fulton added that the Kewanee Hospital team believes that by integrating with OSF “we are better positioned to provide for the needs of our patients far into the future.”