Algonquin Could See Two New Area Hospitals

By C.M. Schmidlkofer

The approved a resolution to support a hospital as requested by Mercy Health System Feb. 15. The proposed $200 million hospital is to be located at Route 31 and Three Oaks Road. 

Mercy Health System Vice Presidents Richard Gruber and Dan Colby told the council it wanted the city’s support in order to apply for a Certificate of Need from the state of Illinois. Colby said it was also asking Lake in the Hills, Cary, Algonquin and McHenry County for support as well. 

Once approved by the state and area localities, building the 356,000-square-foot facility would create approximately 800 construction jobs; and about 800 permanent jobs once building is completed. Forty-five physicians would be employed at the hospital. 

Councilwoman Carolyn Shofield made it clear that approving the resolution did not guarantee Mercy Health System the go-ahead to build the facility—that this was only a resolution supporting the possibility for a hospital in the city. 

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By Gloria Casas

Huntley officials are reaching out to lend Centegra Health System a hand by spearheading an online petition supporting Centegra’s $233 million hospital.

The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review is holding a public hearing Wednesday on the plan that calls for a 128-bed hospital on property adjacent to Centegra Health Bridge in Huntley. Centegra must apply for a Certificate of Need (CON) from the state health board in order to build the hospital, called Centegra-Huntley.

“We are partnering very closely with the village,” said Kim Kubiak, Centegra spokesman. “We appreciate their support. It will be a good thing for their community. Obviously, it will be a huge economic impact throughout the whole southern portion of the county.”

A new hospital would help boost Huntley’s economy with nearly 1,100 permanent jobs and 800 construction jobs, officials said. It is estimated to bring millions to the local economy.

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By Gloria Casas

will make its case to build a new hospital in Huntley at a hearing, but the opposition is already gearing up with its own arguments against the $233 million project.

Sherman Hospital spokeswoman Christine Priester said the Elgin-based hospital will be speaking at the Illinois Health Facilities and Service Review Board’s public hearing Wednesday because Sherman is concerned about capacity.

“Every hospital, including Centegra (hospital in Woodstock) currently has capacity and have capacity for years to come,” Priester said. “This (the Huntley hospital proposal) will significantly weaken all area hospitals.”

Sherman is objecting to Centegra’s plan along with other area hospitals, Priester said. Provena Saint Joseph Hospital, in Elgin, St. Alexius Hospital in Hoffman Estates and Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington plan to attend, she said.

Mercy Health System, which has a dueling proposal for its own hospital in Crystal Lake, is also expected to give testimony, she said. A spokesman with Mercy could not be reached Tuesday afternoon.

Centegra officials have said the population increase in Huntley alone, expected to double to 44,435 in the next 20 years, warrants a new hospital.

Sherman just celebrated it’s the first year anniversary of its $325 million hospital on Randall Road. Huntley is within its service area with 75 percent of ambulance runs from the village, Priester said. It is 10 to 15 minutes away from Huntley.

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