Politics & Government

A New Edward Hospital in Plainfield Remains a Top Priority

Although currently on hold, the project was one of the main things Plainfield Mayor Michael Collins discussed with legislators a few weeks ago and it will be part of a new comprehensive plan.

When Will County officials descended on Springfield a few weeks ago to push their legislative agendas, there was one thing at the top of Plainfield Mayor Michael Collins’ list: .

Specifically, making sure state officials know the village has not given up its desire to win state approval for a new Edward medical center in Plainfield.

It’s been more than four years since Naperville-based Edward Hospital first proposed an eight-story, 162-bed acute care hospital for its 60-acre medical campus at 127th Street and Van Dyke Road, where a cancer center, 24-hour emergency facility, outpatient center and medical office complex already exist.

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Edward has no current plans to revive the project but that doesn’t mean can’t demonstrate the project remains a top priority, Collins said. When the economy revives, housing construction resumes and the population begins growing again, Collins wants those in charge to know this is an issue that never dropped off the village's radar, he said.

“What we’d like to do is make sure our name is out there,” Collins said. “We have 40,000 residents. It’s the old adage – if you’re in a health emergency, is the hospital ever close enough?”

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The hospital issue is so important that it was mentioned Monday as one of the key components in a new comprehensive plan, work on which is just starting. Van Dyke Road is already developing into a “medical corridor” given the number of medical-related facilities located there, and adding a hospital to the mix is the logical next step, village Planner Michael Garrigan said.

“We have an opportunity to make Plainfield a major medical center in the area,” he said.

Trustee Jim Racich agreed, pointing out that this is the type of business that attracts new residents who want to live close to where they work.

“We need to do everything possible that we can to promote the development of that hospital,” Racich said. “If it were to happen, it would be like the saying, the future’s so bright, you’ve got to wear sunglasses.”  

More than a few people, the mayor included, think the project didn’t receive a fair review in 2007 and 2008 because of the corruption that was subsequently uncovered with the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board, which is in charge of approving and rejecting “certificates of need” for hospital-related projects.

Although no allegations were made in reference to the Edward project, developer and Democratic fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko was convicted in connection with charges that he controlled some board decisions using bribes to ensure certain hospital projects were approved.

“I just wonder if that didn’t have an effect,” Collins said.

In the mayor’s estimation, the process of a state board deciding if a “need” exists before a hospital is allowed to build a new facility is “antiquated.” He said that while the board’s goal is to keep hospital prices lower by ensuring the industry doesn’t overbuild and then pass the expense along to patients, the opposite – that competition is what keeps prices down – is more likely true.

As for Edward, hospital spokesman Keith Hartenberger said plans for a Plainfield hospital are currently on hold.

“We’re thrilled with the reception and support we’ve received in Plainfield and the backing of public officials from the village and Will County,” Hartenberger said.

“(But) we're in a holding pattern for now. We're keeping an eye on the overall market conditions and monitoring the current planning board process.”


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