HUNTLEY – On Wednesday, December 30, Centegra Health System and Mercy Health System both filed applications for Certificates of Need from the Illinois Health Services Review Board.
If granted, the certificates would allow Centegra to build Centegra Hospital-Huntley on the corner of Reed and Haligus roads and Mercy to build a hospital on Route 31 and Three Oaks Road in Crystal Lake.
Architectural rendering of the proposed Centegra Hospital in Huntley to be located at the corner of Reed and Haligus. (Illustration provided)
A CON ensures that any medical facility being constructed is serving a need in its community and is not an unnecessary cost.
Centegra must also have its preliminary plans approved by the village, then meet with planning and zoning and other commissions before asking the Village Board for approval of their final plans.
Though it anticipates a hearing with the board by May, Centegra would not have to wait to receive the certificate of need to meet with the village.
“The applicant is allowed to meet with the village board, zoning commission, etc. in planning the project, and this type of information is often included in an applicant’s application,” Kelly Jakubek, Illinois Department of Public Health communications manager, said.
Centegra Hospital-Huntley is a 128-bed facility costing $233 million. In addition to serving its patients, it will also serves the community by creating 1,100 full-time jobs, 700 of which would be clinical, according to a Northwest Herald report.
Construction of the hospital is scheduled to last 30 months and to finish in 2016. Construction would create an estimated 800 jobs, according to Centegra’s website.
As Huntley’s population grows, Jay Kadakia, Huntley village trustee, said it is no longer acceptable for residents to have to travel to Woodstock, Crystal Lake, or Elgin for health care.
“Instead of being [reactive] to after the population increases and economic activity increases, instead of that, these people have taken a proactive approach on this one, and I’m glad they did it,” he said.
According to Huntley Fire Marshall Ernest Link, once Centegra is completed, it will not necessarily become the default hospital Sun City residents would be taken to in case of an emergency.
He said the decision of where to take patients is done on a case-by-case basis and depends on which hospital is best able to serve the patient’s needs and is closest to Sun City, considering distance and traffic.
Kadakia said when he met with Centegra CEO Michael Eesley upon the completion of Centegra Health Bridge and Primary Care, Eesley laughed when asked when a hospital would be built.
“I knew it should be coming early, and I thought it would be in five years, and they are making that schedule, it sounds like to me,” Kadakia said.
Kadakia shared his appreciation for Centegra’s administration and staff.
“I think they have played a positive role for the village, and we are glad to have them here,” he said.
