OSF to acquire certain Proctor assets, including First Care centers
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 27 February 2013 17:11
- Written by Paul Gordon
OSF HealthCare has acquired all of the Proctor First Care offices and other assets of Proctor Hospital, increasing the size of its Peoria holdings, the companies announced on Wednesday.
Expected to be completed by the end of March, the transaction will not affect the quality of care or the delivery of care to patients of Proctor Hospital, its primary care physicians or the First Care facilities, officials of both entities emphasized. "Patient care was foremost in all our minds," said James Farrell, senior vice president of marketing and communications at OSF.
"We intend to preserve and maintain the quality of care for our patients, not disrupt it," said Steve Wilson, director of communications at Proctor Hospital.
According to a news release, Proctor officials approached OSF about acquiring the assets because of financial difficulties. "It was clear that their ability to continue to provide primary care services was at risk. With that in mind we looked to do what was in the best interests of care for area patients," it said.
OSF will acquire the five Proctor First Care centers and its primary care sites as well as Proctor's primary care physician practices involving 17 doctors. Those practices and the physicians will become part of the OSF Medical Group. OSF also will acquire Proctor Medical Equipment.
The cost of the transaction was not revealed on Wednesday.
Proctor will continue to own and operate the 223-bed hospital on North Knoxville Avenue as well as the Hult Health Education Center and the Illinois Addictions Recovery Center, Wilson said.
The hospitals said the move works because of a "longstanding relationship" between OSF Saint Francis Medical Center and Proctor Hospital. "The transition means area patients are able to maintain access to the same facilities and physicians they have come to know and trust. OSF has a tradition of meeting and exceeding the needs of those we have the privilege to serve, and we look forward to continuing to fulfill our mission," OSF said.
Proctor officials said their hospital has faced the serious financial challenges many freestanding community hospitals deal with on an increasing basis. Those are caused by changes brought by health care reform and decreasing Medicare reimbursements, among other things. As a result, they said, "it has become apparent that we do not have the resources needed to maintain important primary care services."
Calling the decision to sell the assets a responsible one, the result will be an influx of much-needed financial resources to the hospital.
Wilson said hospital officials are confident the decision will be in the best interest of the Proctor employees, physicians and patients. "This was important for the community. Patients will have the same choices tomorrow as they have today," Wilson said. He added he has fielded calls from concerned patients, including some whose primary care physicians keep offices in the Proctor First Care centers. "There will be no changes. They will continue seeing those physicians in those offices," he said.
The Proctor First Care offices are located:
- At Willow Knolls Court, 3915 Barring Trace, in Peoria; open seven days a week 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; telephone 689-3030.
- At Knoxville Square, 9118 N. Lindbergh Drive, in Peoria; open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; telephone 693-3993.
- At 1120 E. War Memorial Drive in Peoria Heights; open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; telephone 685-4411.
- At 2535 E. Washington St. in East Peoria; open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; telephone 694-6464.
- At 621 W. Jackson St. in Morton; open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; telephone 263-4343.
Hours and telephone numbers will not change after the transaction is completed, Wilson said.
