History

Established by the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George and now sponsored by the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, OSF Saint Anthony's Health Center was founded in 1925 by five pioneering Sisters, who traveled from their General Motherhouse in Thuine, Germany to expand their mission to America. The story is told that they arrived with less than three dollars between them and one bag of oranges. But they were rich in faith.

Thanks to generous donations, the Sisters were able to purchase the Nazareth Home, a combination orphanage and infirmary in 1925, and they renamed the home Saint Anthony's Infirmary. In 1956, the organization became a fully licensed hospital, operating as Saint Anthony's Hospital. In 1959, construction on a new wing of the hospital was completed. More lay persons joined with the Sisters in caring for the sick. Midnight Mass marked the opening of the new chapel in 1964 and the West Annex was completed in 1966.

1970's

In 1970 an Intensive Care Unit was introduced with a 4-bed unit for seriously ill or injured patients. And, in 1975 the first hospital-based home care service brought to the Alton community.

Also in the 1970's, the first Inpatient Psychiatric unit was opened, and operated until 2004.

1980's

In this era, Operating Rooms opened and Surgery was added. An Emergency Room opened in 1983, with renovation completed in 1989. Saint Anthony’s Adult Day Services was established in 1986 and in 1988, The Women’s Pavilion obstetrics unit was opened.

Saint Anthony’s Hospital acquired St. Joseph’s Hospital in 1989 and renamed the facility Saint Clare’s Hospital. Also this decade, inpatient and outpatient Chemical Dependency Treatment Centers were opened (closed in 2004) and the Employee Assistance Program was established and is still operating today. 

1990's

In 1990 the Diabetes Treatment Center opened, and the first cardiac catheterization was performed at Saint Anthony’s Health Center. Inpatient Physical Rehabilitation was added on the Saint Clare’s Hospital Campus in 1992, and in 1993 Saint Anthony’s Foundation was created to facilitate charitable giving. 

In 1994, The Women's Pavilion became certified as a Level II Perinatal Facility by the State of Illinois, and in 1997 the Sleep Studies Lab opened on the Saint Anthony’s Health Center campus. Outpatient Psychological Services began seeing patients in the 1990s and the unit is still operating in 2021.

2000's

Saint Anthony’s Health Center received a prestigious Top 100 Hospital designation. In 2002, Saint Clare’s Villa, a 64-unit supportive living facility, opened on the Saint Clare’s Hospital campus. 2004 the Center for Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Medicine opened on the Saint Clare’s Hospital campus – first wound center in the area. 

In 2005, the Sisters of St. Francis and Mission Partners of Saint Anthony’s Health Center meet the President of the United States. An Outpatient Chemotherapy department was opened offering seven infusion suites, private blood draw area and exam rooms, as well as a comfortable waiting area for family members.

Saint Anthony's campus transitioned to an all-private room facility with newly remodeled patient rooms, beds with position monitoring and innovative patient safety features, and flat screen televisions.

2012

• A complete renovation of Saint Anthony's cardiology services, includes installation of a fully digital cardiac catheterization system. The Acute Rehab Unit on the campus of Saint Clare’s Hospital, the area’s only certified inpatient rehab unit, transitioned to all-private rooms. The area’s first Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) procedure is performed at Saint Anthony’s Health Center by Dr. Naeem Aslam, Gastroenterologist with Saint Anthony’s Physician Group. Becomes the only Alton-area facility to have the $400,000 EUS technology, as well as the staff specially trained in EUS procedures.
• SAHC received The National Award of Excellence from the National Rehabilitation Association for outstanding achievement in creating opportunities for people with disabilities. The group commended the partnership between Saint Anthony’s and the Alton School District’s work-training program helps students with disabilities better prepare for transition to employment and community participation.
• Saint Anthony’s Cancer Center of Excellence received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer; one of a select group of 106 currently accredited cancer programs across the United States and one of six in Illinois to receive the recognition.
• Saint Anthony’s Health Center named one of the nation’s Top Performer on Key Quality Measures by The Joint Commission, the leading authority of health care organizations.

2013

• The Cancer Center of Excellence Cancer Infusion Center opens, featuring a healing and stress-reducing environment for individuals receiving chemotherapy as part of their cancer treatment. Dr. Manpreet Sandhu becomes the first female Medical Oncologist in the Alton Area in August, 2013.
• Saint Anthony’s Health Center has consistently been named one of the nation's Top Performers on Key Quality Measures by The Joint Commission, the leading authority of health care organizations in America. 
•  The Joint Commission, in conjunction with The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, recently recognized Saint Anthony’s Health Center with Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers.
• Saint Anthony’s Health Center becomes first Illinois hospital to launch Specialists On Call’s Teleneurology Service, assuring immediate 24/7/365 access to board certified, fellowship trained neurologists via telemedicine for patients suffering from stroke or any other neurologic emergency.
• A Patient Navigation Program is introduced to serve as a link between cardiologists, primary care physicians, and services. Patient Navigation is now offered through Oncology, Cardiology, Pulmonology and Neurology.
• Saint Anthony's Diabetes Services becomes one of only a few diabetes programs in the bi-state area to be recognized by the American Diabetes Association for excellence in diabetes education.
• Saint Anthony's Sleep Center expands and relocates to Suite 308 of Saint Clare's Professional Building, partnering with Clayton Sleep Institute, a leading independent sleep medicine organization. Through the partnership with Clayton Sleep Institute, Saint Anthony's Sleep Center expands to include sleep testing on patients of any age.
• Saint Anthony’s Health Center is the first heart center in the Metro-East to implant a new internal cardiac defibrillator (ICD) that uses a single lead to sense vital changes in heart rhythm.
• Saint Anthony's Cancer Center of Excellence receives the American Cancer Society's President's Award for enhanced efforts with patient navigation in radiation therapy and the infusion center.
• Clinical Radiologists, SC, expands services offered at the Center for Pain Management, by adding small joint injections for ankles, hand/wrists, fingers/toes and elbows in addition to the large joint injections to shoulders, knees and hips.
• The Acute Rehabilitation Unit on the Saint Clare's campus received a three-year CARF Accreditation for inpatient rehabilitation, with stroke specialty -- the only such facility in the greater Alton area.
• Saint Anthony's Women's Pavilion receives a 3-year re-designation as a Level II nursery by the Southern Illinois Perinatal Program. 
• Saint Anthony's Health Center received recognition by the St. Louis Area Business Health Coalition for outstanding patient safety and quality outcomes.
• Saint Anthony's becomes the only mammography facility in the Riverbend area to be an accredited Breast Imaging Center of Excellence, a prestigious national recognition by the American College of Radiology (ACR).

2014

• On March 17, Saint Anthony’s Health System (SAHS) signs a Letter of Intent to affiliate with OSF Healthcare System (OSF), one of the largest integrated health care systems in Illinois. On November 1, 2014, Saint Anthony's Health Center officially becomes OSF Saint Anthony's Health Center; Saint Clare's Hospital officially becomes OSF Saint Clare's Hospital.
• Saint Anthony's Psychological Services begins offering the area’s only group therapy sessions led by a Licensed Clinical Psychologist.
• Saint Anthony's Cancer Center of Excellence receives "Three Year with Commendation in All Areas" approval by the American College of  Surgeons Commission on Cancer.

2015

• OSF Saint Anthony's Emergency Services received the Women's Choice Award® as One of America's Best Emergency Care Hospitals, ranking #1 in the nation with a perfect score in Emergency Care.
• For the fourth year, OSF Saint Anthony's is awarded an "A" grade in the Spring 2015 Hospital Safety Score, the gold standard rating for patient safety.
• An open house is held to showcase the newly renovated Balance Center at OSF Saint Clare's Medical Office Building, featuring Balance Master advanced technology.
• A ribbon cutting and open house marks the opening of the newly transformed Suite 205 of Saint Anthony's Physician Group, providing primary care patients with patient-focused, high-quality, team-based care, including use of electronic health records.
• OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center earns an A in an elite national ratings program from independent hospital watchdog The Leapfrog Group – the only hospital in the River Bend to be recognized by the Leapfrog group with an A rating.
• OSF Saint Anthony's Health Center is named Top Performer on Key Quality Measures by The Joint Commission for the fourth consecutive year.
• The Joint Commission, in conjunction with The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, recognizes OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center with Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers.