St. Margaret's Health

It appears a key decision on plans for a new, downsized Saint Elizabeth hospital in Ottawa will wait until the new year.

The $5.5 million project would add seven surgical beds and five intensive care beds to Peru by the end of 2025, for a total of 45 and 8, respectively.

Hilco Real Estate Sales is taking bids now through July 24 at 5 p.m. An opening asking price for the five-story hospital wasn't disclosed. Personal property and equipment were already sold off.

OSF HealthCare has reopened the bankrupt former Saint Margaret's hospital in Peru, but the impact that may have on another Illinois Valley community is sparking new concerns.

The Peoria-based health care provider announced Wednesday it will build a new St. Elizabeth's Medical Center on a 31-acre plot across U.S. Route 6 from the current Ottawa facility. OSF says the current building is at the end of its useful life.

Peoria-based OSF HealthCare says the new Peru campus of Saint Elizabeth Medical Center is tentatively set to open April 7 with emergency services and limited inpatient beds.

Saint Margaret's Health is asking a federal bankruptcy judge to allow the sale of its closed hospital in Peru to move forward.

The now-closed Saint Margaret's hospitals in Peru and Spring Valley are filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board approved the change of ownership for the Peru hospital last month. Dr. August Querciagrossia said there are still some regulatory steps remaining, but the biggest challenge remains the asset acquisition.

The hospital closed abruptly in January amid the previous owner's financial and staffing challenges.