Alexian Bros. beginning work on children's hospital

Come Monday, construction crews will commence work on the $117 million children's hospital at St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates.

After more than four years of planning and fundraising, hospital officials joined Hoffman Estates Mayor William McLeod Friday afternoon for the ceremonial groundbreaking for the six-story building.

“The dream is becoming a reality,” McLeod said.

Thanks to an influx of money from Ascension Health, which announced last month it would acquire the hospital's parent, Alexian Brothers Health System, the new addition could be finished by the second quarter of 2013. That's about three years ahead of schedule, said Mark A. Frey, Alexian Brothers executive vice president. Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village is also part of the deal.

In one of the key initial commitments that helped get the project off the ground, the Rotary Club of Schaumburg-Hoffman Estates pledged $250,000 to the project. After this year, the club will have raised $165,000 since initially discussing the project in 2008.

Club members assembled on Friday and donned hard hats to participate in the ceremony. For past-President Jeff Millstein, the effort was personal. Doctors diagnosed him in February 2010 with brain cancer, and he's suffered through two cranial surgeries.

“This hospital saved my life,” the Schaumburg man said.

Millstein credits staff, especially neurosurgeon Dr. Bryan Bertoglio, with keeping him alive. He sees a clear need for the new wing. He said can't imagine forcing a parent to drive a sick child to downtown Chicago for treatment.

Parents of many children with chronic illness are forced to drive to downtown hospitals to obtain the proper care and resources, said Dr. Calvin Fischer, president of the medical/dental staff at St. Alexius. The new hospital will combat the high cost of motor fuel and time spent commuting by having the right doctors close by, he said.

And having centralized facilities with medical specialists and the equipment they need in one spot lowers the cost of health care, Frey said. For example, staff can communicate better when they're in the same place to ensure they're not duplicating services.

“It does lower your cost structure, absolutely,” Frey said.

Hospital officials also talked about how this project will boost staff morale.

“It's important not only to the children of the community, but the whole hospital is going to be affected by this in a very positive way,” said Edward M. Goldberg, president and CEO of St. Alexius.

Ascension, based in St. Louis, will offer more than money, Frey said. Once the deal is finalized, Alexian staff will have access to doctors and experts working at Ascension's other facilities across the country. That will improve patient care, Frey said.

“We can take advantage of that and bring that here,” Frey said.