History

1914

People’s Hospital in Peru opens.

1976

The hospital is renamed Illinois Valley Community Hospital (IVCH) when it merges with St. Mary’s Hospital in LaSalle.

1979

A campus expansion project culminates with the opening of an 80-bed addition.

1994

A parking garage is built. In addition, a second floor and sky bridge are added to the West Street office building.

1996

The Hygienic Institute in LaSalle becomes part of the Peru hospital.

2000

The Women’s Health Care Center opens.

2003

The main hospital building expands with the opening of the East Addition, including an expanded emergency department and a new surgical unit.

2006

The Center for Physical Rehabilitation and Aquatics opens next to the Illinois Valley Y in Peru.

2011

A new obstetrics unit and intensive care unit open following the expansion of the East Addition.

2013

The Wound and Hyperbaric Center opens.

January 1, 2021

St. Margaret’s Hospital in Spring Valley and IVCH finalize arrangements to consolidate health care operations to form a regional health network. Illinois Valley Community Hospital is renamed St. Margaret’s Health – Peru. St. Margaret’s Hospital was founded in November of 1903 by seven sisters from the Sisters of Mary of the Presentation, a group of nuns expelled from France by an anti-religious government.

November 2023

Continuing the tradition of Catholic health care, OSF HealthCare finalizes the purchase of the property formerly owned by St. Margaret’s Health – Peru. OSF HealthCare is a 16-hospital Catholic health system serving Illinois and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

April 2024

• St. Margaret’s Health – Peru officially opens as OSF HealthCare Saint Elizabeth Medical Center – Peru.