MercyRockford Health System, a merger between Janesville, Wis.-based Mercy Health System and Rockford (Ill.) Health System, plans to build a $400 million "destination" hospital campus in Rockford, according to a Rockford Register Star report.
Here are four things to know about the project.
1. The new 188-bed hospital campus would include a women's and children's hospital with neonatal intensive care, pediatric intensive care, high-risk maternity care and pediatric emergency services, according to the report. It also would include a Level I trauma center, 10 operating suites and surgical services for a variety of inpatient and outpatient surgery.
2. MercyRockford plans to use 20 acres of the future campus for a hotel, which would serve mothers and families with infants under neonatal care at the hospital, as well as retail and restaurant space, according to the report, which cites information from Mercy Health system CEO Javon Bea.
3. The project is not a done deal. Before it can build the new campus, MercyRockford must apply for approval of a certificate of need through the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board.
4. Construction is expected to begin in late 2016, with the hospital opening by 2018.