OSF HealthCare Expands Rural Illinois Hospitals with New Tech and Services

Regional President Zach Yoder outlines growth plans for Galesburg, Monmouth, and Kewanee facilities

Apr. 11, 2026 at 1:08am

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A highly detailed, translucent X-ray photograph of a modern hospital bed frame, revealing the intricate internal structure and mechanics in a ghostly, glowing outline against a dark background.An X-ray view of the advanced medical technology powering rural healthcare facilities in western Illinois.Galesburg Today

Zach Yoder, the newly appointed president of three OSF HealthCare facilities in western Illinois, is leading an expansion of services and technology at OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, OSF HealthCare Holy Family Medical Center in Monmouth, and OSF HealthCare Saint Luke Medical Center in Kewanee. The regional hospitals are adding emergency department capacity, robotic surgical systems, and new specialty services to better serve their communities.

Why it matters

As rural healthcare facilities face challenges like staffing shortages and limited resources, OSF HealthCare's investment in these three hospitals demonstrates a commitment to bringing high-quality, accessible care to smaller communities. The expansion of services and advanced technology aims to reduce the need for patients to travel to larger urban centers, keeping care close to home.

The details

The six new emergency department exam rooms at St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg were immediately filled upon opening, reflecting high demand driven by respiratory illnesses. To address patient flow, OSF has established transfer committees to move patients through the continuum of care more efficiently. The expansion also includes dedicated behavioral health beds and new cardiology-focused CT imaging. St. Mary has also added robotic surgical systems, including a Da Vinci 5 for general surgery and an ION robotic bronchoscopy system. Across the three facilities, OSF is working to expand access to services like radiation oncology, pediatric specialties, and wound care.

  • The six new emergency department exam rooms at St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg recently opened.
  • A new Meadowview Behavioral Health Center in Peoria is expected to open later this year, providing expanded mental health services for the broader region.

The players

Zach Yoder

The newly appointed president of OSF HealthCare St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, OSF HealthCare Holy Family Medical Center in Monmouth, and OSF HealthCare Saint Luke Medical Center in Kewanee. Yoder is a nurse by background with 19 years of healthcare experience.

OSF HealthCare

A not-for-profit health system based in Illinois that operates 15 hospitals and an extensive physician network, including the three facilities led by Zach Yoder.

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What they’re saying

“Being able to bring high-quality services to an area that's not part of a bigger urban area is something that's really exciting. To keep people close to home and services in their community.”

— Zach Yoder, President, OSF HealthCare St. Mary Medical Center, OSF HealthCare Holy Family Medical Center, and OSF HealthCare Saint Luke Medical Center

“Most physicians coming out of surgical residencies and fellowships are robotics trained. If you go to a rural market without robotics, it's hard to recruit.”

— Zach Yoder, President, OSF HealthCare St. Mary Medical Center, OSF HealthCare Holy Family Medical Center, and OSF HealthCare Saint Luke Medical Center

What’s next

The long-term goal for the regional OSF HealthCare facilities is to achieve a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a multi-year process involving 35 quality metrics.

The takeaway

OSF HealthCare's investment in expanding services, technology, and capacity at its rural Illinois hospitals demonstrates a commitment to bringing high-quality, accessible healthcare closer to the communities it serves. By adding emergency department space, robotic surgical systems, and new specialty services, the regional facilities aim to reduce the need for patients to travel to larger urban centers, keeping care local.