DuPage hospital's proton therapy center denied
SPRINGFIELD -- Unable to justify two proton therapy treatment centers only miles apart, the state Health Facilities Planning Board struck down Central DuPage Hospital's proposal Tuesday.
Hospital officials also postponed a vote that would create a new hospital in Plainfield.
The Central DuPage Hospital hoped to build a $140 million proton center that could be used to treat around 1,500 patients a year.
However, the state's health planning board recently granted Northern Illinois University permission to be the first in the state to build a proton therapy treatment center. That facility is scheduled to be constructed at the DuPage National Technology Park in West Chicago.
Central DuPage Hospital and Northern Illinois University had vied to be the first to obtain state approval to build similar centers in the Western suburbs.
But acting board chairwoman Susan Lopatka questioned investing nearly $300 million in two proton treatment facility centers roughly five miles apart.
Central DuPage supporters replied by questioning whether Northern Illinois University could build the facility in 24 months as is required by law.
"The onus is on NIU to produce, and we have no reason to think that they will not do that, at this point," Lopatka said.
John Lewis, project director for the proton therapy project at Northern Illinois University, said after the meeting that he was pleased with the decision. He discounted any concerns about the university not meeting its marker. He said that while the current plan to fund the building's nearly $160 million construction relies in part on the General Assembly, if needed the school would find an alternative cash source given the fiscal and political stalemate at the Capitol.
"We're ready to meet that 24-month deadline," he said
Dr. William Hartsell, president of Radiation Oncology Consultants, who testified in favor of the Central DuPage Hospital treatment facility, said he was disappointed with the outcome.
"There is a definite need, and it far exceeds the supply now," he said. "Even if three or four are built in the near future, that's not going to be enough to handle the demand, so two facilities in Chicago is not too many, it's not enough."
Also Tuesday, the board postponed a vote on whether to build an Edward Plainfield Hospital citing the need to clarify errors. But Plainfield Mayor James Waldorf saw the board's move as another example of political posturing.
Waldorf found the decision to postpone a vote as a disservice to his community.
He said community members previously collected thousands of signatures supporting a new hospital. Waldorf estimated current travel times to the nearest hospital can exceed 40 minutes. Thirty minutes is a benchmark the state sees as a reasonable time to drive for an elective hospital procedure.
"We absolutely are in strong need of a hospital," Waldorf said. "This is another delay. It is extremely upsetting to me and I will communicate that upset to the citizens of my community."