Edward's Plainfield hospital denied again, CEO Davis chastised
Edward Hospital's plan to build one in Plainfield was denied Wednesday, and CEO Pam Davis got a tongue-lashing from the board that turned her down again.
The vote marks the third time in five years the project has been rejected by the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board.
After the vote, acting Chairwoman Susana Lopatka blasted Davis for critical comments she made about agency staffers ahead of the vote.
Davis told several media outlets, including the Daily Herald, the Plainfield proposal wasn't getting a fair shake because she wore a wire for federal investigators several years ago to prove allegations of corruption within the agency. Davis' efforts resulted in several indictments and eventually led to the arrest of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
"This has been very unfair," Lopatka said. "I've been very distressed about comments made by the hospital's CEO and the personal attacks she's made in the press. Excellent people have been besmirched."
Davis did not attend Wednesday's hearing, but hospital officials at the meeting complained about Lopatka's outburst.
"I'm very disappointed by this conversation," said Dr. Alan Kaplan, Edward's chief medical officer. "It's very difficult after hearing this conversation to believe that this application was judged without bias."
Previously, Davis had targeted the board's executive secretary, Jeffrey Mark, and the state health department liaison to the board, David Carvalho. Both men denied any wrongdoing and took the high road disputing Davis' allegations.
"Contrary to the suggestions of your CEO, the staff of the health department, and I in particular, are grateful to her in exposing corruption," Carvalho told the Edward contingent. "If your CEO had not taken the actions she did, they were days away from getting rid of me because they considered me a pain in the butt. I have treated your hospital's application no differently."
Edward's lawyer, Mark Silberman, said the references to Davis' comments during the application's debate were "improper and does nothing but taint the application."
Edward officials said they would reapply for a fourth time as early as Wednesday night.
The four-member panel voted 2-2, but a tie equals denial.
Lopatka said she has routinely voted against the project and others in the same area, and nothing in this current proposal swayed her. She said Edward's Plainfield proposal equated to "four years of hell" for her.
Board member Courtney Avery also voted against Edward while board members James Burden and David Penn voted for the project.
No: Board staff denies bias