State Board to Hear Centegra's Huntley Hospital Plan Again

Centegra Health Care is slated to once again argue that Huntley is the right location for a new McHenry County hospital before a state board.

Centegra is slated to appear before the board in early December, said Susan Milford, Senior Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Planning and Wellness Services.

The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Board is scheduled to meet Dec. 6 and 7 at the Bolingbrook Golf Club, 2001 Rodeo Drive, Bolingbrook. Centegra’s Certificate of Need (CON) application is tentatively scheduled on the agenda.

“Our proposal has not changed,” Milford said. “And it meets the state identified needs. It’s really a responsible development created over a long time. We didn’t just jump into this. We recruited physicians to the area and started an immediate care center (on the Haligus Road complex). This is the next step of the evolution.”

While Centegra has not changed its proposal, Mercy Health Care changed its proposal from 128-bed hospital to a 70-bed hospital. Mercy wants to build a hospital in Crystal Lake. A hearing was held earlier this month on the new proposal.

The board is expected to hear Mercy’s CON application at the same December meeting as Centegra.

A few highlights of Centegra’s $233 million plan:

• 128 private patient rooms
• full service emergency department with a Level II trauma designation
• level II nursery
• helipad for transporting patients with critical needs
• non-invasive cardiology services
• dedicated women’s center

Additionally, the new hospital would create 800 construction jobs and 1,100 additional permanent jobs. Centegra estimates it will create $152 million in economic impact for area communities.

Milford feels optimistic the board will give its approval at the December meeting.

“We believe it’s the right project and in the right location,” Milford said.