Franciscan St. James Health, the Chicago arm of Mishawaka, Ind.-based Franciscan Alliance, has a sweeping reorganization plan for its two Chicago-area hospitals, according to a Chicago Tribune report.
Here are six things to know about the plan.
1. It calls for consolidating inpatient services at the hospital in Olympia Fields, Ill., and expanding outpatient care in Chicago Heights, Ill., where two-thirds of the existing hospital will be torn down, Arnie Kimmel, president of Franciscan St. James Health and CEO of Mishawaka, Ind.-based Franciscan Alliance's two Chicago suburban hospitals, told the Chicago Tribune.
2. In Olympia Fields, facilities will be expanded to make room for obstetric services and inpatient rehabilitation and to consolidate emergency care.
3. The Chicago Heights hospital will offer extensive outpatient care, including diabetes and obesity services, as well as laboratory and diagnostics services and a pharmacy, according to the report. The Professional Office Building will be renovated to accommodate more clinical practices.
4. About 60 jobs in supervisory and support staff will be eliminated by attrition due to consolidation. However, no layoffs are anticipated as a result of the consolidation.
5. Mr. Kimmel said the overall goal of the $137 million project is to reduce the total cost of care while enhancing quality and operational efficiency, according to the report.
6. The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board must still sign off on the plan. Mr. Kimmel hopes to put the finishing touches on the plan in December and submit the hospital's certificate of need to the state review board in the spring. He estimated that the company, if its plan is approved, could complete the reorganization and offer the expanded services in mid-2018.
More articles on capacity management:
Shields Health Care to open new imaging centers, clinics: 4 things to know
Beaumont Hospital-Royal Oak begins construction on $120M ED
Community Health Network begins construction on new cancer center