Advocate Health Care eyes center in Round Lake

Advocate Health Care is determined to have a presence in Round Lake, whether it be with a hospital or a smaller facility.

Advocate officials provided testimony Tuesday to the state health facilities planning board to support its bid for an immediate care center to be located at the same site where a full-service hospital is proposed.

"Advocate is trying to address health care access now," said Matthew Robbins, Advocate's vice president of business development.

Robbins added Advocate hopes to turn the immediate care center into a freestanding emergency room as soon as possible.

The proposal has Advocate's competitors wondering if the company is conceding on plans to build a $251 million, 144-bed acute care hospital at Route 120 and Wilson Road.

Mathew Koschmann, vice president of external affairs and business development for Lake Forest Hospital, said Advocate's latest proposal only raises more questions.

"It remains unclear as to what Advocate really wants or intends to do in Lake County," Koschmann said. "Does Advocate acknowledge their hospital application doesn't meet state rules given the state has said there is an excess of more than 300 inpatient beds in the county?"

The state has postponed a decision on Advocate's hospital proposal until April.

At that time, the planning board also will hear from Vista Health of Waukegan, which wants to build a $100 million, 140-bed facility in Lindenhurst.

The planning board will makes its decision based on the community's need. It isn't likely to approve both projects.

The planning board is also expected to vote on Advocate's immediate care center proposal during that meeting.

Robbins said Tuesday he is perplexed that other Lake County hospitals would oppose an immediate care center/freestanding emergency room that would bring additional health care to the region.

"We suggest that residents in these communities ask if the opponents of this project are acting in the best interest of the community, or are merely concerned about their own interests," Robbins said. "We have been forthright with the board and the community about Advocate's plans for Round Lake. We continue to pursue our proposed full-service hospital."