Medical groups have some convincing to do
The two medical groups fighting to open the first new hospital in Lake County in 30 years have taken some punches recently from the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board.
But both groups say they'll come out fighting on Tuesday, when the next round of hearings begins on proposals from Vista Health and Advocate Health Care.
Vista wants to build a 140-bed hospital in Lindenhurst. Oak Brook-based Advocate has submitted plans to build a 144-bed hospital in Round Lake.
And the state planning board says it's possible that neither facility is necessary.
The latest development came last week, when a report by the planning board found that Advocate's proposed $251 million hospital does not meet certain state criteria to justify construction.
In the staff report issued Tuesday, the board states the Advocate plan for Route 120 and Wilson Road in Round Lake doesn't meet the criteria established for bed need. Advocate contends more hospital beds are needed in northwest Lake County.
Vista, which wants to build at Grand Avenue and Deep Lake Road, has faced similar questions from planning board officials. Board officials said an inventory taken in June by the state showed more than 406 available beds in the area for which Vista is proposing its new hospital.
Advocate also doesn't meet the criteria necessary for expansion or establishment of cardiac catheterization services, according to the 29-page report from the health facilities planning board.
Vista Health officials last month asked the planning board to defer a hearing on their $100 million proposal so they could submit additional information they say will illustrate the need for a hospital in northwestern Lake County.
And Advocate officials are equally devoted to the cause, saying they'll argue that the information used by the state in June is outdated, and that more recent statistics show the need for more beds in the area.
No hospitals operate in northwest Lake County, which has become a battleground in recent months to see which health care provider will be the first -- and likely only -- one in that area. Before a new hospital can be built, the state planning board reviews the application and determines if it is economically feasible.
Closely watching the proceedings is Condell Medical Center, which has hired a consultant to study the impact a Lindenhurst hospital would have on its Libertyville operation, 11 miles to the southeast.
Last year, the state approved Condell's $105 million expansion project to build a seven-story tower and add 68 beds. That would bring the total number of medical/surgical beds to 214. The state also approved Condell's $30 million emergency department expansion plan.
That sets the stage for Condell to become the county's only Level I trauma center by 2009, which will allow it to treat all trauma patients. It is currently a Level II center.