A definitive agreement has been signed that may result in Ottawa Regional Hospital & Healthcare Center joining the OSF Healthcare System. Ottawa Regional Hospital, to be renamed OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center, is expected to join the Catholic system later this spring.

The announcement comes after nearly 15 months of due diligence, a process described by the organizations as validating the benefits to the communities they serve. Before a change of ownership occurs Ottawa Regional's corporate members must ratify the proposed arrangement and the organizations must receive approval from the Illinois Health Facilities & Services Review Board.

"We have determined that partnering with OSF HealthCare will in fact enhance our ability to provide outstanding medical care," said Robert Chaffin, President and CEO of Ottawa Regional. "The new affiliation will provide local residents improved access to high quality, cost effective services."

Ottawa Regional Governing Board Chairman Steven Gonzalo agrees. "As one of the largest health care networks in Illinois, OSF HealthCare has invested wisely in new processes and technologies to better serve patients," said Gonzalo. "Our integration will make us more efficient."

Among the anticipated benefits local residents will experience is greater access to integrated primary, secondary, and advanced tertiary health care services. Achieving excellence in clinical innovations, services, quality, costs and outcomes have also been identified as goals of both organizations.

The affiliation makes strategic sense to OSF HealthCare CEO Kevin Schoeplein who has bright hopes for the future of health care in Ottawa and surrounding areas. "We are pleased with and appreciative of the support we've received from business leaders, elected officials, other hospitals, and from our respective medical staffs, including independent physicians who serve our patients," said Schoeplein. "It demonstrates a collaborative, vested interest in our Mission to serve persons with the greatest care and love in a community that celebrates the gift of life."