Lindenhurst hospital decision deferred two more months

Had the state heard Vista's plan to build a hospital in Lindenhurst on Monday, the outcome may have been different.

But they didn't, and now the proposal that has been on the drawing board for almost a year has been deferred two more months.

Members of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, who oversee construction of new hospitals, recommended deferral on Tuesday during their monthly meeting in Chicago.

The recommendation comes after the planning board adopted new rules on Monday outlining how the need for new facilities is determined.

Vista officials didn't know Tuesday if the new rules would work in favor of or against their proposal to build a 140-bed, $100 million hospital in Lindenhurst.

"What happened today was very positive," said Vista CEO Barbara Martin. "The board could have just denied us. Instead they recommended deferral and showed that they are willing to work with us."

The Lindenhurst project will be on the planning board's December agenda, along with a proposal by rival Advocate Health Care. Oak Brook-based Advocate is proposing a $251 million, 144-bed hospital in Round Lake.

If either proposal is approved, it would mean the first new hospital in Lake County in 30 years.

For a complete story, see Wednesday's Daily Herald.