The History of OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center – Ottawa

The Beginning

1895: The Ryburn Memorial Hospital, donated to the city of Ottawa by Mrs. Celia Armour Ryburn in memory of her late husband Dr. John S. Ryburn, was dedicated.

1896: The Ryburn Memorial Hospital School for Nurses was established.

Early 1900s

1909: Soloman E. King left a bequest of $40,000 that went toward a new addition called the King and City Annex. The original building was converted to a nurse’s home.

1930s & 1940s

1939: After a new addition was connected to the King and City Annex, the original Ryburn building was torn down and the nurses’ home was moved to 717 Clinton St.

1944: A new nurses’ home and addition were added.

1948: A state-aided cancer diagnostic clinic was opened at Ryburn-King Memorial Hospital.

1950s

1955: Plans were announced to close the Ryburn School of Nursing.

1959: The Ryburn-King Memorial Hospital Auxiliary was established.

1960s

1960: The Auxiliary Gift Shoppe was opened, stocked with items donated by the citizens of Ottawa.

1964: The former Baily-Walsh Funeral Home at 729 Clinton was added to the hospital property.

1966: The city of Ottawa transferred all the hospital assets to a new not-for-profit corporation.

1969: The Ottawa Silica Foundation presented the hospital with a deed to 30 acres of land as a building site.

1970s

1971: The groundbreaking was held for the new, $10.5 million Community Hospital of Ottawa located at 1100 E. Norris Drive.

1974: The new Community Hospital of Ottawa opened.

1980s

1980: An alcohol rehabilitation department opened.

1982: An ambulatory surgery unit was opened.

1984: A mental health unit was established, the only service of its kind in the area.

1984: A CT scanner was purchased with a joint venture between Community Hospital of Ottawa and 13 physicians.

1985: An $80,000 parcel of land located adjacent to the hospital in the East Gate Subdivision, was donated by the Ottawa Silica Company to be used for construction of medical facilities.

1985: Home health services were offered, a continuation and enhancement of the home health care previously provided by Ottawa Visiting Nurse Services.

1987: The Care-A-Van transportation service was implemented, staffed completely by volunteers.

1990s

1992: An adolescent psychiatrist was hired, the only one in the surrounding area.

1993: Community Hospital of Ottawa and Community Hospice Inc. combined resources to provide the community with a more comprehensive hospice program.

1997: Community Hospital of Ottawa joined the area’s first stroke network, coordinated by OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

2000s

2000: A groundbreaking was held for the new, 13,000-square-foot addition to rehabilitation services.

2002: A new, $837,673 CT scanner was installed.

2006: A new medical office building was completed for physician offices.

2007: A groundbreaking was held for the 2,000-square-foot MRI addition to the radiology department.

2007: A groundbreaking for a 16,000-square-foot cancer center, a joint venture between the hospital oncologist Dr. Kevin Khater and Illinois Cancer Center, was held.

2008: The Community Hospital of Ottawa began operating as Ottawa Regional Hospital & Healthcare Center.

2010s

2010: Ottawa Regional Hospital announced plans to merge with OSF HealthCare.

2012: The newly named OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center was blessed and dedicated by Bishop Jenky.

2013: OSF ConstantCare, an electronic monitoring system, was activated in the Intensive Care Unit at OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center.

2020s

2021: A Home Medical Equipment Center was opened.

2022: OSF Saint Elizabeth was included on a list of the nation’s Top 100 Rural and Community Hospital.

2023: OSF HealthCare announced the acquisition of the former St. Margaret’s Hospital in Peru, which would become a second campus of OSF HealthCare Saint Elizabeth Medical Center.