Gala opening at Bolingbrook hospital
Adventist Health System's brand new Bolingbrook hospital was unveiled to the public Sunday.
The facility is the first new hospital in Illinois in more than 25 years. After it officially opens in December to treat area residents, it will have generated about 500 jobs.
Sunday afternoon, more than 1,000 Adventist officials, employees and volunteers celebrated Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital's grand opening with tours, family activities and a ribbon cutting ceremony. State and local elected officials also took part.
"I think this was a huge need," said Isaac Palmer, the new hospital's chief executive officer. "When you look on a map, there's a huge void geographically for hospital services in the Bolingbrook area."
He thinks the hospital will draw residents primarily from Bolingbrook but also from south Naperville, Plainfield and Lemont.
The hospital, which cost more than $150 million for construction, is nearly 300,000 square feet and accommodates 138 beds, with 12 devoted to intensive care and 20 for obstetrics.
Carol Beaumont, director of inpatient nursing, was excited Sunday afternoon.
"A group of people planted a small seed, and it has grown into a beautiful rose garden," she said of the hospital.
She also said nationally, there is a shortage of nurses. However, the hospital has filled all its nursing positions without any problems, and there's even a waiting list of area nurses who are anxious to jump on board.
"We were very blessed to fill all our nursing positions," Beaumont said.
Jillyan Shelton, director for physician strategies and assistant to the CEO, said she's especially looking forward to the first surgery and the first baby.
"I'm excited about all the firsts we're going to have," she said.
Although the new Bolingbrook hospital is just a few weeks away from opening, the battle continues over whether an extension of Edward Hospital will be built in nearby Plainfield.
Edward is seeking to build a $218 million, 142-bed acute care facility on the village's south side.