OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center officially became part of the OSF HealthCare Ministry on Feb. 1, making it the 14th hospital in the Peoria-based health system.
The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis and the Little Company of Mary Sisters align themselves with the philosophy, mission and values that guide decision-making in a way that respects the dignity of the whole person and puts the needs of the patient first. It is the mission of OSF HealthCare to serve with the greatest care and love in a community that celebrates the gift of life.
“On January 19, we celebrated 90 years of our health care ministry in Evergreen Park,” said John Hanlon, MD, MMM, president of OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary. “This merger between OSF and Little Company of Mary assures the continuation – and strengthening – of Catholic health care in the southwest Chicago suburbs, while allowing us to join with OSF in leading health care transformation throughout our community.”
At the stroke of midnight Feb. 1, the process began to switch all information technology systems, including patient medical records, lab, pharmacy, and every other technology that runs a hospital, over to OSF. The process took several hours, with no disruption to patient care.
“Personalized, innovative care is a priority for OSF HealthCare. Our innovation teams have partnered in and committed to the advancement of care at the most personal level,” said Bob Sehring, CEO, OSF HealthCare. “OSF HealthCare believes that through this partnership, better health can be created and value delivered across our communities.”
The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board approved the change of ownership exemption application between OSF and Little Company of Mary in mid-December, with the merge of the organizations receiving canonical approval from the Vatican a week later.
Technology Feat
On the OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center website, the changeover was described in detail.
After months of planning that involved thousands of people across the OSF ministry, the systems that powered everything at Little Company of Mary were converted to OSF systems at midnight on Feb. 1. It took about two and a half hours to get everything up and running, and then the process of getting everything settled comfortably into place began.
It was an impressive transition that was accomplished while the hospital continued caring for more than 200 patients during switchover, not including those coming into the emergency department. The conversion covered more than 600 different systems, bringing them live all at one time, explained Jim Mormann, CEO, Integrated Solutions and Chief Information Officer for OSF HealthCare. “There’s a lot of sequence of events and a lot of pieces that have to occur to ensure that patient safety is kept to the highest a degree possible along with keeping all of our systems functioning effectively,” he said in the website coverage.
Members of the integrated solutions team and others remained onsite to make sure everything is running smoothly and that the new OSF Little Company of Mary Mission Partners are comfortable with them.
Sharing a Mission
The merger was more than just the coming together of two hospitals, it was also linking both congregations of Sisters that oversee the organizations. Special moments were woven into their first Mass, celebrated on Feb. 1 by Father William Grogan, Vicar for Health Care for the Archdiocese of Chicago.
The ritual enhanced the understanding for the transference from the Little Company of Mary Sisters to The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. Featured was a table with the baptismal record of the many thousands of babies born at Little Company.
Mary Jo Quick, Director of Mission Services for OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center, said it was important to have a prayerful way for both congregations to share the history of their communities, light a candle in front of a photo of each Foundress, and from there light a single candle, together, to symbolize the two communities coming together and continuing to provide care for those they have been called to serve.
The Little Company of Mary Sisters are dedicated to caring for the suffering, the sick and the dying. The order was founded in 1877 in Nottingham, England by Venerable Mary Potter. The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis were founded in Peoria, Illinois on July 16, 1877, by Mother M. Frances Krasse, O.S.F., the first Major Superior of the religious community, and Bishop John Lancaster Spalding, the first Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria. They are committed to serving the sick, the poor, and all those the Lord sends their way with the greatest care and love.
With the addition of Little Company of Mary, OSF HealthCare employs 23,678 Mission Partners at more than 147 locations including 14 hospitals.
OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center operates 12 unique facilities, including the hospital, 2800 W. 95th St., which has strong community connections. Learn more at www.osfhealthcare.org/little-company-of-mary.
