OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Ill., said it could be out $23.8 million in annual revenue and be forced to cut 200 jobs if MercyRockford Health System builds its planned $400 million, 188-bed medical center in Rockford, according to a Rockford Register Star report. MercyRockford Health System is a merger between Janesville, Wis.-based Mercy Health System and Rockford (Ill.) Health System.
Here are four things to know about the comments from OSF Saint Anthony's.
1. OSF Saint Anthony's President Paula Carynski contends the negative financial impact to OSF Saint Anthony's will be "dramatic" if the new campus is built, as the site is within the primary service area of OSF Saint Anthony, according to the report. "While it's possible that Saint Anthony will be able to retain some of this volume due to the current patient relationships that exist, over time Saint Anthony will most certainly be dramatically impacted," Ms. Carynski said, according to the Rockford Register Star.
2. But Javon Bea, president and CEO of MercyRockford, told the Rockford Register Star the new site is "ideally located to serve the entire region from which we receive patients," and that Wisconsin referrals to the new hospital for neonatal care, high-risk pregnancies, pediatrics and other highly specialized care would total $25 million a year. "That additional revenue is part of what will make the continued operation of [Rockford (Ill.) Memorial Hospital] possible," he added.
3. The comments were part of OSF Saint Anthony's official objection to MercyRockford's plan, which was filed last week with the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board. The board, which approves or denies hospital expansions, is expected to make a decision on the project Nov. 17, according to the report.
4. The comments come about three months after MercyRockford announced its plans in to build a regional "destination" hospital campus. The 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. Construction is expected to begin in late 2016, with the hospital opening by 2018.
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