Lake Forest Hospital lands helipad approval

Lake Forest Hospital can install a helicopter landing pad if it receives state permission to convert its Grayslake outpatient and acute care center into a freestanding emergency facility.

Grayslake village board members Tuesday night voted 5-0 to allow the hospital to construct the helipad. Village officials said state regulations require a helicopter landing pad for stand-alone emergency centers.

Lake Forest Hospital's Grayslake facility is near routes 120 and 45. It's open 17 hours daily and is staffed by board-certified emergency doctors and registered nurses with trauma training.

If approved by the state, the freestanding emergency center would be open 24 hours daily. It also would have ambulance bays and enhanced emergency services.

Prairie Crossing resident Robert Harmon voiced some concern about the helicopter landing pad Tuesday night. He said helicopters produce a "disturbing sound pattern" louder than jets.

Two other hospitals also are proposing free-standing emergency centers in Lake County. Vista Health Systems is trying to establish a center on land it owns on Grand Avenue in Lindenhurst, and Advocate Health wants to build one on Route 120 and Wilson Road in Round Lake.