Photo Caption: HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital in Streator.

STREATOR — An agreement to transition health care services in Streator from Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) to OSF Healthcare System was announced at a press conference Tuesday morning at the Knights of Columbus Hall here.

The agreement follows HSHS’s decision to discontinue health care services at HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital and related facilities and calls for OSF HealthCare to build a new state-of-the-art facility in Streator.

The time frame for completing the transition is still being determined pending regulatory approvals. It could begin in early 2016.

OSF HealthCare’s planned new outpatient center will include services such as imaging, laboratory, rehabilitation, specialty physician clinics, and mammography. It will be a minimum of 30,000 square feet and include either around-the-clock urgent care or, if permitted by the state, emergency care.
OSF will work with government and community leaders in the planning, site selection and construction of the facility. During construction, OSF will provide outpatient services through St. Mary’s exitsting facilities and care sites, as well as OSF HealthCare’s current sites.

“BEST OPTION FOR STREATOR”
“The most important priority in collaborating with OSF is to ensure that Streator-area residents continue to have access to high quality health care at a time when care is increasingly being offered in robust outpatient settings,” said Mary Starmann-Harrison, HSHS president and CEO. “We believe OSF is the right Catholic health care partner in the best position to provide improved access to coordinated care for residents of Streator and surrounding areas for decades to come.”

As the transition plan is finalized, input will be sought from Streator residents and city leaders on how best to repurpose the existing St. Mary’s campus, located at 111 Spring St. and dedicated in 1964. HSHS will work with OSF to identify and coordinate employment opportunities for St. Mary’s colleagues.

“Change is never easy, but this collaboration is the best option for Streator going forward,” said John Flanders, St. Mary’s president and CEO. “As more procedures and treatments are delivered in outpatient settings, we have had to reduce inpatient services at St. Mary’s Hospital,” he explained.

The agreement represents a new system of care in rural areas where the focus is on creating healthier communities with coordinated care closer to home, officials said.

“OSF Medical Group has been serving residents of Streator and surrounding communities for many, many years, working closely with numerous providers at St. Mary’s Hospital,” said Kevin Schoeplein, OSF Healthcare System CEO.
“Our experience in Streator will enable us to quickly develop and provide the health care services and programs that match the pressing needs of Streator and the surrounding area.”

St. Mary’s Hospital was founded 128 years ago in a converted two-story residence by three Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis of Springfield. A new facility was built in 1888, with the Sisters making additions in 1902, 1913, and 1924 prior to construction of the present hospital in the mid-1960s.