Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan, Ill., lost its level 2 trauma center designation Feb. 2.
Mike Claffey, a spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Public Health, said in an email shared with Becker's Feb. 5 that the department notified the hospital that its designation has been revoked "due to its absence of essential services needed to maintain this designation, including lack of a blood bank, anesthesia, neurology, urology, or a full-time trauma coordinator."
The move does not affect other services at the hospital, Mr. Claffey added.
He said the Illinois Department of Public Health and state government officials have been in communication with Lake County leaders, surrounding hospitals, trauma centers and emergency medical service providers in the area to ensure individuals in Lake County and the region will continue to have access to vital emergency services.
Vista Medical Center East is part of Waukegan-based Vista Health System and was acquired by Glendale, Calif.-based American Healthcare Systems in 2023.
Faisal Gill, chief legal officer for American Healthcare Systems, said in a statement shared with Becker's Feb. 5 that the hospital "strongly disputes" the revocation of its designation and is appealing the revocation determination.
Mr. Gill also said Vista is working with state officials to resolve this issue and is confident that the issue will be resolved in a short time period.
The revocation determination has sparked concerns for some in terms of access to healthcare services. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health website, level 2 trauma centers in the state "provide some essential services available in-house 24 hours per day, and provide other essential services readily available 24 hours a day."
State Sen. Adriane Johnson issued a statement after the Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan lost its trauma center designation, saying that the revocation determination will result in people with serious injuries having to be transported to hospitals more than 20 minutes away.
"It is vital that we find the root cause of the issue at Vista Medical Center and create tangible solutions to ensure residents are safe. We also must consider the impact it has on employees who face grave uncertainty from if they have a job to if they'll be paid."
Ms. Johnson also said she will be working with the Illinois Department of Public Health, Vista Medical Center East and other local and state agencies "to get to the bottom of the revocation and ensure our residents — both patients and employees alike — receive the care and assistance they deserve."
Waukegan Fire Chief Gregg Paiser also expressed concerns, saying that additional time paramedics will spend driving to and from the closest facilities such as Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest (Ill.) Hospital, or Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, Ill., can negatively affect patients, according to the Chicago Tribune.
"This is shocking news," he said, according to the newspaper. "It's going to be very challenging for us operationally. It will change patient care. Instead of taking two to five minutes to transport a patient, it will increase to 12 to 20 minutes. Then we have to go back."
The Tribune reported that others have also expressed concerns, including Mark Pfister, the executive director of the Lake County Health Department; U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider; and Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor.
Mr. Gill, with American Healthcare Systems, said Vista "took over a hospital which was not performing and had great financial difficulties. We have been working diligently to try to turn the hospital around and make it financially stable.
"We are fully committed to the Waukegan community and will make sure that the people there will have quality healthcare. Despite the naysayers, Vista Health will not shut its doors, and we will be in the community."