Edward unveils alternatives to Plainfield hospital

Edward Hospital has come up with alternatives to its Plainfield hospital plan in hopes of receiving support next month from the state hospital planning board.

Hospital officials said Tuesday they would consider adding obstetrics/gynecology beds to the facility while reducing the number of medical/surgical/pediatrics beds.

The adjustments come in response to a suggestion from Susana Lopatka, acting chairwoman of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, that Edward create a women's hospital.

Lopatka brought up the idea at a July 1 board meeting in which a vote on Edward's proposed $234 million, 162-bed hospital was delayed once again.

Brian Davis, vice president of marketing at the Naperville-based Edward, said the hospital has considered the idea but doesn't believe it is feasible due to "regulatory hurdles and financial barriers."

"We've given careful consideration to Chairwoman Lopatka's suggestion to consider a women's hospital and while that doesn't seem feasible in and of itself, have developed alternative plans we believe address the needs, the spirit of what she has put forward," Davis said.

Those alternative plans would add 10 obstetrics/gynecology beds while subtracting either 14 or 42 medical/surgical/pediatrics beds.

Hospital officials still plan to present their original proposal to the board for consideration when it meets Aug. 12 and 13 in Chicago but said they are open to discussing the other options.

Edward's hospital proposal faces resistance from Bolingbrook Adventist Hospital, Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora and Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet.

But Plainfield Mayor James Waldorf Tuesday called the proposed hospital "our number one public safety issue" and said if the hospital is not approved, it will leave a gap in care for a fast-growing area.

The state on Tuesday released its latest report on Edward's hospital application and still finds discrepancies with the number of beds proposed versus the number needed. But Davis said the gap is closing. Edward's proposal includes 114 medical/surgical/pediatrics beds and the state is now recognizing a need for 40, up from 19.