[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 21 (Tuesday, March 1, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E321]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PAYING TRIBUTE TO SISTERS, EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS, AND PHYSICIANS OF OSF 
                          ST. JOSEPH HOSPITAL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. TIMOTHY V. JOHNSON

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 1, 2005

  Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on March 22, 1880 the Sisters 
of the Third Order of St. Francis opened St. Joseph's Hospital in 
Bloomington, Illinois. Today, 125 years later, OSF St. Joseph Hospital 
remains open and ready to care for the sick.
  From the very beginning, the Sisters faced adversity, but with the 
support of the community the hospital was able to endure. Even those 
outside the Sisters' religious community joined in caring for the sick, 
thus establishing a bond between the Sisters and the people of McLean 
County that is strong to this day.
  Over the past 125 years, St. Joseph's Hospital has seen its share of 
changes. A new St. Joseph's Hospital opened in March of 1968 along 
Veterans Parkway. Since then many additions have been made, including 
two new medical plazas, an advanced medicine center, new physician 
offices, a surgery wing, two urgent care clinics and a musculoskeletal 
center. In 1987, the hospital's name changed to OSF St. Joseph Medical 
Center. While the structure and name of St. Joseph's Hospital has 
changed, the desire and devotion of the Sisters, employees, volunteers 
and physicians to serve God's people has remained steadfast.
  In its 125-year history, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center has 
accumulated many accomplishments and ``firsts''. For example, the first 
successful blood transfusion and Caesarean section in Central Illinois 
occurred at St. Joseph's in 1929. In addition, St. Joseph's Hospital 
was home to the first radiation treatments in Bloomington-Normal.
  Today, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center cares for over 6,000 inpatients 
and 250,000 outpatients annually. They also welcome more than 800 
babies every year. The Medical Center is now a nationally-recognized 
leader in the reduction of adverse drug events and surgical safety.
  Again Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the many generations of 
Sisters, employees, volunteers and physicians of OSF St. Joseph Medical 
Center. For 125 years this hospital has served as a tremendous example 
of the good that can be done when people come together to serve their 
communities.

                          ____________________