06
December
2019
|
09:32 AM
America/Chicago

A Partnership Party

Ribbon cut on newly renovated OSF Center for Health - Streator

CFH-Streator Ribbon Cutting Sisters

Hundreds came. Curiosity was the main motivator. Just what did OSF HealthCare do to the former St. Mary's Hospital and what does it mean for me? 

This week's ribbon cutting, blessing and open house at the newly renovated OSF Center for Health - Streator - while at first a tire kicking exercise for visitors - became a learning experience in how the faciity and the rural health care initiative it represents will impact the medical and wellness needs for the greater community. 

Carol Friesen, OSF HealthCare Northern Region CEO says, "Serving rural communities is a specialty of ours and we relish the opportunity in Streator." 

President of OSF HealthCare Saint Elizabeth Medical Center, Ken Beutke says while he's excited and satisfied with the progress the facility represents, he's most pleased with the community collaboration with key partners.  

"There's a lot of resources already out there in your community," says Ken Beutke, President of OSF HealthCare Saint Elizabeth Medical Center. "You just have to identify them and then stop competing and working together. So, I think it's a key component to this health care model. And that is everybody taking ownership of the health of this community."

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Beutke says continuing to strengthen those collaborations is one of the next steps in the rural health care initiative process. There's also more facility work to be done, including finishing the Center for Health's community education center. 

"That's where we'll see the collaborative come together." says Ken Beutke, President of OSF HealthCare Saint Elizabeth Medical Center. "Because we're inviting the community to come in and use that center. But we're also preparing to help them do that education in a little bit different way than we've always done it. So that we actually get better outcomes from a behavioral health standpoint."

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Leanr more about the OSF HealthCare Center for Health - Streator and the rural health care initiative, here

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