Vista plan helps hospital access

In Lake County and the greater Chicago area we're accustomed to convenience and access to the best. No matter where we live, we're close to a variety of large grocery stores.

There are seemingly coffee shops and drugstores on every corner and malls are nearby. But in Lake County, one statistic defies logic: the lack of access to hospitals.

There is one hospital bed available for every 2,462 residents, much worse than the state average of one hospital bed available for every 360 residents.

The good news? That will change soon once Vista Health System's plan to build a new hospital in Lindenhurst comes to fruition.

I'm encouraged to hear that members of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board made some positive comments about Vista's proposal at a recent meeting. The IHFPB will review the hospital plans at a meeting this December, and I remain hopeful that they will be approved.

I am also looking forward to the many jobs the hospital will bring.

I enthusiastically support Vista and encourage other Lake County residents to do the same.

Mayor Susan Lahr

Village of Lindenhurst