Public Has Say Regarding Location of Another Hospital In Crystal Lake Area

Should another hospital be located in McHenry County, specifically on the southeastern corner of Route 31 and Three Oaks Road in Crystal Lake?

That is a decision the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board will have to make. Testimony was provided Friday by representatives of Mercy Health System which proposes to locate a 128-bed acute care facility at the Route 31 location. Although the Review Board was not physically present for the hearing, all testimony was recorded and is to be reviewed by the Board before making a decision.

The public also had much to say regarding the proposed location as well as remarks regarding present facilities. Some remarks were flatering while others were not.

This is the second attempt to locate a hospital at this location. The first attempt  in 2004  resulted in Federal indictments against State Health Facilities Board members. Mercy officials are adamant in pointing out that the actions at the time were not on the part of Mercy officials, but involved State Health Facilities Board officials. A new Health Facilities Board is in place since the indictments

According to testimony at the Friday hearing, Mercy officials spelled out plans for a 353,000-square foot, 128 bed acute-care facility at the Route 31 site which would serve 184,000 people, representing approximately 46 percent of the county's population. Mercy claims this is the number in the area without full-service emergency room or hospital-based outpatient services. Pending approval of the application by the State Health Facilities Board,  plans by Mercy call for breaking ground for the new hospital later this year.

Also in this mix of health care providers for residents in the southeastern part of McHenry County is Elgin based Sherman Hospital, Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, Barrington, St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates, as well as Centegra Health System with plans for a new hospital in southern McHenry County at Haligus Road and Reed Road in the Huntley area.

The opponents all explained that other faculties are located within a short time-frame from the area to be served by Mercy. As most everyone in the area knows, travel time could depend upon the traffic at the time and whether the travel is by ambulance or private vehicle.

As would be expected, established hospitals are concerned that another facility would reduce revenues for those already in existence. The final decision is up to the current State Health Facilities Board.