A brief overview of who we are:

 

An early pioneer in the field of neuroscience, the Department of Neurology installed the first CAT scanner in Illinois. Another first occurred in 1983, when the first Neuro-Special Care Unit in downstate Illinois was opened in order to care for patients during an outbreak of botulism. Now, the Neurological Critical Care Unit boasts 31 beds, specialized nursing, and a portable CT scanner. In 1997, under the direction of Dr David Wang, the newly formed OSF Stroke Network became the largest rural stroke network in the United States. In 2004, the OSF Stroke Center earned the “Gold Seal of Approval” as a JCAHO certified Primary Stroke Center, the first in Illinois. Now affiliated with over 25 Illinois hospitals, the Stroke team has developed into one of the most progressive stroke programs in the country, providing excellence in the care of stroke patients, as well as clinical research and education. With this large referral base, the department has also been able to introduce additional sub-specialty services and clinics, including the Comprehensive Epilepsy Clinic, Movement and Spacticity Clinics, Multiple Sclerosis Center, Neuro-Ophthalmology & Vertigo, Neuromuscular Disorders, Neuro-Rehabilitation, and Sleep Disorders. This expanded Neurology department has since joined forces with the departments of Neurosurgery and Neuroradiology to form the Illinois Neurological Institute, a hospital within OSF Saint Francis Medical Center.

 

The history of Peoria's Saint Francis Medical Center goes back to 1876, when six Sisters of the Third Order of St Francis began caring for the sick in a small two-story frame house and called it St Francis Hospital. Soon, the city asked the Sisters to take charge of the city hospital, and a new facility was purchased. Multiple additions and expansions were eventually performed, while the Order began opening up several hospital facilities in cities around Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan. Today, OSF Saint Francis is Illinois' fourth largest medical center, with 710 licensed beds. It is the area's only Level I Trauma Center and has been designated Magnet Status for excellence in nursing care. In addition to the Illinois Neurological Institute, OSF Saint Francis is home to the Heart Hospital (the first in Illinois to be JCAHO certified in heart attack care) and the Children's Hospital of Illinois (ranked among the top 1 percent of Neonatal Intensive Care Units). Currently, the medical center is continuing its commitment to cutting edge medical care with its new Milestone Project (a 440,000 square foot addition) and the  implementation of comprehensive Electronic Medical Records.

 

We invite you to browse through our website and get to know more about the program, our facilities, and the all-American city of Peoria, Illinois!