Edward revises Plainfield hospital proposal - again

Edward Hospital has once again modified its proposal for a Plainfield hospital that has struggled to gain support from the state.

The latest plan includes fewer beds - 130, down from 162 - in response to concerns from the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board that there isn't enough need in the area.

Naperville-based Edward has been trying to win the board's approval for more than five years and was rejected again last month.

Brian Davis, vice president of marketing, said the Plainfield area cannot continue to wait for a hospital.

"This area is in dire need of emergency services right now," Davis said. "We're talking huge amounts of patients who are not within what we believe is a proper distance to an emergency room."

Edward's modified proposal subtracts 42 medical/surgical beds and adds 10 obstetric beds for an overall reduction of 32. Susana Lopatka, acting chairwoman of the state board, previously suggested Edward create a women's hospital.

Despite the reduction, the cost for the hospital has increased to $241.5 million, up from $234 million due to the higher cost of obstetrics beds.

Even with fewer beds, the proposal is still above the state's latest findings of a need for 40 medical/surgical/pediatric beds.

However, Davis said the board will be receiving letters from House Minority Leader Tom Cross, Will County Executive Larry Walsh and Will County board member Lee Ann Goodson about the area's population growth and the need for a Plainfield hospital.

"We believe there's some new information being put forward to the planning board about the growth of Will County ... coming from the elected officials in that area who know their county better than anyone," Davis said.

The Edward Plainfield campus currently includes an outpatient center, medical offices and surgery center. Construction soon will begin on 30,000-square-foot cancer center that is scheduled to open in 2009.

This latest proposal could go before the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board as early as Nov. 5.

Other area hospitals, including Bolingbrook Adventist, Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora and Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, previously have opposed Edward's proposal.

Anyone wanting to submit letters to the planning board about the proposal may do so before Oct. 16 to Jeffrey S. Mark, Illinois Department of Public Health, Health Facilities Planning Board, 525 W. Jefferson St., Second Floor, Springfield, IL 62761.