Pittsfield hospital plans geriatric psych unit

PITTSFIELD, Ill. - A western Illinois hospital is asking state regulators for authorization to open a psychiatric unit for older patients.

Illini Community Hospital in Pittsfield wants state approval for a 10-bed unit that would serve west-central Illinois and northeastern Missouri.

Hospital CEO Kathy Hull tells The Quincy Herald-Whig the region is "a wasteland for geriatric psychiatric services." The project would cost $3.28 million and first must be approved by the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board. The board will consider the project at a meeting in March.

Illini Community Hospital is part of the Quincy-based Blessing Health System.

The geriatric unit would serve patients in Adams, Pike, Calhoun, Greene, Hancock and Scott counties in Illinois, and Marion, Ralls, Lincoln and Pike counties in Missouri.