PEORIA, Ill. — OSF HealthCare is moving into the next phase of construction for the OSF Cancer Institute as a giant proton beam is being brought to the St. Francis Medical Center campus this week.
OSF HealthCare Central Region CEO Bob Anderson says the proton beam began its journey in Germany, was put on a ship, then docked in Baltimore, Maryland before hitting the road.
“Getting it from Maryland to Peoria, Illinois, really takes a lot of coordination. The skill it takes to drive something like that…this truck is so large, there’s a second driver in the back when it has to make turns,” Anderson tells WMBD’s “The Greg and Dan Show”.
The proton beam is coming to Peoria in several parts, the first of which was set to arrive Tuesday.
Anderson says once on the OSF campus, proton beam will be placed into a giant vault.
“Most of it is underground, so you can’t even see it. When all of the landscaping and everything is done, just the roof will be at ground level,” Anderson says, so workers will be able to service the equipment through the roof.
OSF HealthCare’s Cancer Institute will be only the second center of its kind in Illinois to use proton beam therapy to treat cancer patients.
The largest piece of the proton beam is expected to arrive in Peoria Wednesday.
Officials say traffic near OSF’s Saint Francis campus will be effected through Thursday when the giant equipment will be installed.
The installation process involves lifting and lowering two parts by crane, separately, into the concrete vault that’s been poured for it.
The first treatments at the OSF Cancer Institute are expected to take place in early 2024.
