Edward Hospital's pitch has familiar ring

It's an experience that's become all too familiar.

Edward Hospital administrators and supporters lay out their case to build a second facility in Plainfield before Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board officials.

Meanwhile, leaders from other area hospitals offer objections, saying there isn't a need right now.

At a hearing Thursday, the familiar scenario unfolded.

Edward's CEO Pam Davis outlined plans for a $235 million hospital with 162 beds. It's the Naperville institution's third time trying for permission from the state planning board, a fact state Sen. Linda Holmes decried.

"I'm upset to be here today," the Plainfield Democrat said. "We should be at a ribbon-cutting for this hospital."

Officials with Bolingbrook Adventist Hospital, which will open in December, Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora and Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet gave terse statements objecting to the proposal.

Rush-Copley and St. Joseph's have contended that Edward's entry into Plainfield would draw their wealthier patients away, resulting in a larger percentage of underinsured clients. The new facility just isn't needed right now, they argue.

So far, the health board has sided with Edward's opponents, ruling that demographics don't support a Plainfield facility yet.

But Edward supporters point to new state legislation that allows health board members to look at future population projections in their deliberations as an encouraging sign.

Hospital planners also revised their proposal to include spending $9 million on acute care beds for the mentally ill and building an obstetrics clinic serving low-income and uninsured women.

"We want to continue our tradition of protecting the most vulnerable of our citizens," Davis said.

Plainfield is expected to grow from 35,000 to 120,000 residents by 2030.

"We must put new hospital beds where the population is exploding," said Illinois House Republican Leader Tom Cross, who represents Plainfield.

Testimony from the hearing will be considered when the health board votes on the hospital plan, which could be in December.

The hospital would be located west of Route 59 and 127th Street, next to a new outpatient center.