Mercy VP Addresses Review Board on Huntley Proposal

Minutes after Mercy Health System’s proposal was denied, Mercy Vice President Rich Gruber testified against Centegra’s idea of building a Huntley hospital.

A key point in his argument was a Huntley hospital ignored the 160,000 population located in Crystal Lake, Lake in the Hills, Algonquin and Cary, Gruber said. He added the Huntley hospital would serve a community with fewer of 30,000.

Gruber was not alone in his opposition. Director of Community Outreach at Advocate Good Shepherd Julie Mayer said a McHenry County Health Community Survey commissioned by the McHenry County Health Department released in April 2011 found residents ranked availability of health services as the fourth best aspect of living in McHenry County.

The residents surveyed were simply asked about health services and what’s important to them, the spokesperson said. “McHenry County residents are saying they have ready availability to health care services,” she said.