Representatives for Illinois Lung Institute (ILI) and OSF Healthcare System (OSF) have signed the final documents officially making ILI a formal part of the OSF organization effective November 1, 2009. William P. Tillis, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of ILI will continue in that position. All of the 31 employees will be retained as well and Kerry Howard will continue as the Director, Practice Operations.
The nine physicians currently practicing with ILI have each decided to continue under the ownership of OSF. The physicians serve as medical directors for the Medical Intensive Care Units at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center and Methodist Medical Center. The physicians and staff see patients in their main Peoria office and their satellite locations in Canton, Peru and Princeton.
When asked to comment on the transition, Dr. Tillis explained, “We are confident that by formally joining the OSF Healthcare System we are clearly strengthening our ability to continue to thrive long term as the leading provider of advanced treatment of critical care, pulmonary and sleep disorders to patients here in the Greater Peoria Area and throughout the state of Illinois.”
Patients and staff will notice few, if any, changes in the day-to-day operations following the changeover in ownership.
Illinois Lung Institute, formerly Peoria Pulmonary Associates, is the premier provider of advanced treatment for critical care, pulmonary and sleep disorders. For more than 29 years, the compassionate ILI team has utilized the latest technology and research to provide patients with exceptional care. Some of the key areas of patient care and research include: Pulmonary (Lung) Disease; Interventional Pulmonary, Sleep Disorders, Critical Care Medicine and Hyperbaric Medicine.
OSF HealthCare, owned and operated by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, Peoria, Illinois, includes OSF Healthcare System consisting of seven acute care facilities, one long-term care facility and two colleges of nursing. It also has a physician organization, employing more than 350 physicians in various specialties and nearly 50 mid-level providers which are part of the OSF Multi-Specialty Physician Group. OSF HealthCare owns an extensive network of home health services known as OSF Home Care Services and also owns OSF Saint Francis, Inc., comprised of healthcare-related businesses, and OSF Healthcare Foundation, the philanthropic arm of OSF Healthcare System and OSF Home Care Services.