The History of OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois
Located in Peoria, Illinois, OSF Children’s Hospital is a 136-bed, full service children’s hospital. With more than 140 specialists representing more than 40 subspecialties, the hospital provides the highest level of care for newborns to young adults with common and complex medical conditions. For patients that require continued care into adulthood, we offer formalized transition programs.
As a premier children’s hospital, we address the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of the pediatric patient based on three principles:
- Children are unique and have special needs.
- A child’s illness impacts the entire family.
- Childhood illness interferes with normal childhood growth and development.
The hospital is making specialized care more accessible to patients by offering 17 clinics throughout central and northern Illinois, focusing on specialties like congenital heart, general surgery, hematology/oncology and more.
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) also offers a Small Baby Unit – one of the first in Illinois – caring for babies born before 30 weeks gestation.
Other Points of Distinction:
- State-designated Level I Pediatric Trauma Center – the highest level of care available
- Proven world class outcomes in the NICU as a member of the Vermont Oxford Network - a global network of health care providers in the field of neonatal care
- Most comprehensive downstate Perinatal Center (post-birth care)
- Level IV NICU - the highest level of care available
- Home to the only Pediatric Diabetes Resource Center and Congenital Heart Center in downstate Illinois
- Cares for more children in Illinois than any hospital between St. Louis and Chicago with 7,000 admissions, 2,500 newborn deliveries and 18,000 emergency department visits annually
- Ranked one of the most technologically advanced children's hospitals in the world by Top Master's in Health Care Administration
1930s & 1940s
1934: A separate pediatric department was established at St. Francis Hospital.
1942: The Premature Station, better known as the “Doll house’ was established.
1947: The Southern Educational Film Service filmed “The Starting Line” documentary about premature infant care featuring the Premature Station at St. Francis Hospital in Peoria, Illinois.
1948: Plans were announced for a new three-story children’s hospital to be added to St. Francis Hospital in Peoria.
1950s & 1960s
1952: A groundbreaking was held for the children’s hospital building.
1954: Bishop Cousins blessed the new 114-bed St. Francis Children’s Hospital; the only hospital exclusively for children in downstate Illinois.
1964: A groundbreaking for a fourth-floor addition to the Children’s Hospital was held.
1965: The new fourth floor was opened and used for orthopedic care.
1966: St. Francis Hospital opened a new premature center.
1970s
1970: St. Francis Hospital was designated a high-risk premature nursery center.
1973: A Pediatric Outpatient Clinic opened with Dr. John C. Woerner serving as director.
1974: Saint Francis Hospital-Medical Center was designated as the Regional Perinatal Intensive Care Center for North Central Region with Dr. Tim Miller serving as director.
1980s
1981: A Pediatric Diabetes Clinic was established by Saint Francis Hospital-Medical Center in cooperation with the faculty of the Peoria School of Medicine.
1982: Saint Francis Medical Center made national news for using a hemodialysis treatment on a premature baby weighing 1-pound, 12-ounces.
1986: The Pediatric Specialty Center was opened in the Hillcrest Medical Plaza.
1986: The fourth annual Children’s Miracle Network Telethon was broadcast for the first time in the Peoria area, sponsored by Saint Francis Medical Center and the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria. Over $98,000 was raised locally.
1987: The Children’s Heart Institute of Illinois was created.
1987: The Helms quintuplets were born at Saint Francis Medical Center.
1988: The Salvation Army, WEEK-TV and Saint Francis Medical Center partnered to sponsor the first annual “Coats for Kids” program, collecting and distributing coats to children in need.
1990s
1990: A news conference was held to announce the formation of Children’s Hospital of Illinois, bringing together all services and programs designed specifically for children.
1990: The new NICU opened after a $3.1 million renovation project.
1998: OSF Saint Francis Children’s Hospital was one of the first in the state to receive Emergency Medical Services for Children designation.
2000s
2000: The Midwest affiliate St. Jude Hospital was added to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center.
2002: The Children’s Hospital of Illinois was the first downstate Illinois hospital to be designated as a Pediatric Critical Care Hospital.
2007: A groundbreaking was held for the $234 million moderation and Milestone expansion project of OSF Saint Francis and Children’s Hospital of Illinois.
2010s
2010: A blessing and dedication of the new home of Children’s Hospital of Illinois was held.
2011: An open house was held to celebrate the new home of the Pediatric Diabetes Resource Center in the Gerlach Building. The center was the only one of its kind in downstate Illinois
2013: A bioengineered trachea transplant took place at OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois on a 32- month-Korean child.
2014: The Jerry and Lynn Flaherty Family Respite Garden on the rooftop outside the third floor of OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois was blessed.
2016: John and Annette Heller donated $1 million toward the establishment of The Heller Center for Kids with Cancer
2017: A news conference was held to announce the national ranking of OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois in two specialties by U.S. News and World.
2018: The $8.5 million Almost Home Kids facility, a transitional home for children with complicated needs, opened.
2020s
2020: OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois in Peoria opened the area’s only 24-hour emergency room specially designed for children and families.
2021: The new Pediatric Ophthalmology Clinic at the OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois was blessed. The clinic was the only one of its kind in downstate Illinois.
2023: “Through the Window, a History of the OSF Saint Francis Medical Center Neonatal ICU” written by Monica Vest Wheeler was published.
2024: A surgical team at OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois performed the first of its kind implant of an extravascular implantable cardio diverter-defibrillator (EV-ICD), in a 2-year-old child.
2025: Plans were announced for the former OSF corporate office building to be used for OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois pediatric complex care services.
2025: Pediatric cancer services was renamed OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital Cancer and Blood Disorders Institute.
2025: A new NICU digital diary service was offered to keep families updated when they can’t be at their child’s bedside.
2025: The 25th annual Drive for Miracles Radiothon was held.