Health Facilities Board Says No To Mercy, Crystal Lake

The State Health Facilities and Services Review Board on Tuesday turned down a 70-bed Mercy Health System proposal for a new hospital in Crystal Lake.  The vote at the Board's meeting in Normal was six to three against the facility that would have competed with Centegra's newly-approved hospital in Huntley.

That's still a little uncertain, though, since Mercy in Janesville and Sherman Health In Elgin have lawsuits pending in Will County challenging the Board's July decision in favor of Centegra's 128-bed hospital in Huntley in July.

Centegra's Senior VP of Strategic Planning said Tuesday, "We are pleased, and believe it is very sensible, that the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board agreed that Crystal Lake is not the best location for a new hospital in McHenry County. The board vote today affirms that Centegra planned appropriately to meet the growing demands of health care in southern McHenry County and northern Kane County."

In the pic:  An artist's concept for Mercy's original Crystal Lake hospital proposal.