Chicago,
Ill., 06/06/06– The Illinois Health
Facilities Planning Board today approved the
sale of two Waukegan hospitals operated by
Vista Health – Victory Memorial Hospital
and St. Therese Medical Center – to Community
Health Systems (CHS), a Tennessee-based hospital
operator. The sale also will include Victory
Ambulatory Surgery Center in Lindenhurst.
“Today
is a great day for our community’s health
care,” said Barbara J. Martin, Vista
Health CEO and president. “CHS believes
in our future and will give us access to the
capital we need to improve and expand facilities.”
Vista Health primarily serves communities
in Illinois’ Lake and McHenry counties
and in southeastern Wisconsin.
CHS
has committed to invest $70 million into the
Vista Health facilities over five years. The
money will go toward renovation, new equipment
and potentially new construction. All current
Vista Health employees in good standing will
continue at their current rate of pay and
will maintain seniority. All essential health
care services currently provided at the hospitals
will be maintained.
Today’s
approval follows two public hearings on the
sale held in May, in which the community demonstrated
overwhelming support for the sale. Supporters
of the transaction included Waukegan Mayor
Richard Hyde, North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham,
Lindenhurst Mayor Jim Betustak and a host
of others, including local government officials,
business leaders, police officials and health
care advocates. Additional support for the
project was provided via a letter signed by
Lake County Board Chair Suzi Schmidt and state
officials including Sen. Terry Link, Sen.
Susan Garrett, Sen. Adeline Geo-Karis, Sen.
William E Peterson, Rep. Eddie Washington,
Rep. Kathleen Ryg, Rep. Karen May, Rep. JoAnn
Osmond, Rep. Ed Sullivan and Rep. Mark Beaubien,
as well as state senate candidate Suzanne
Simpson. U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean also sent
a letter of support.
On
May 24, Vista Health received a permit from
the Illinois Department of Public Health to
begin use of Victory Memorial Hospital’s
new emergency room, which will be showcased
for the public during an open house on June
10 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Other new or newly
renovated facilities to be featured at the
event include a medical/surgical inpatient
unit with 30 semi-private and 11 private rooms,
a cardiac catheterization lab, suites for
gastrointestinal procedures, an infusion therapy
unit, and the hospital’s main lobby.
“We’re
pleased to unveil our improvements at Victory
Memorial and we’re very excited about
the future of all three Vista Health facilities,”
said Tom Adams, Vista Health Services board
chair and mayor of the Village of Green Oaks.
“With the continued support of the community
and the strength of our new owner, we look
forward to many years of growth and success.”
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