Advocate should compensate village

Some in our community have expressed concern over the financial challenges facing Condell Hospital Network and its pending sale to Advocate Health Care Network.

I would hope the Village of Libertyville is compensated for the loss of our community hospital as the City of Highland Park was compensated when Evanston Northwestern Health System acquired Highland Park Hospital in 2000.

Evanston Northwestern agreed to give the city of Highland Park $100 million dollars to be used in community activities such as parks and recreation, senior services, etc. These funds were to be paid out over a period of years.

For Advocate Health System to say they are paying $180 million for Condell is a little deceiving. The $180 million for Condell will be used to build a bed tower which will only increase the value of the property they are taking over, so, in fact, they are paying nothing.

As for the additional beds, Condell has had such a low occupancy rate for beds the past two years, the additional beds are not needed. Any additional beds should be built in Northwestern Lake County where the need really exists.

Advocate appears to be a viable option to save Condell. What is really driving this takeover is Condell's inability to make a $31 million balloon payment which is due in December of 2008. This would be the real cost of acquiring Condell.

The $180 million Advocate is saying they will give Condell does not even have to be spent as the bed tower construction is not justified or needed.

What is needed is for the Village of Libertyville to be compensated for the loss of control over our community hospital.

Jack L. Martin

Libertyville