Rockford Health Care Community Could Be Growing

Rockford, IL - The travel agency on the corner of Mulford and Guilford Roads could soon have a new hospital as a neighbor. The Regency Hospital Company plans to build a $12.5 million long-term acute care hospital. The company filed a request for a state license with the Illinois Department of Public Health in May. The facility would house 44 beds for chronically-ill patients. That includes those in a coma, dependant on ventilators, or in need of specialized or long-term care. All major Rockford hospitals are on board. "Area hospitals couldve requested a public hearing, but none did," says Gregory Alford, spokesperson for OSF St. Anthony Hospital. "This is a good thing to take some pressure off of our hospital and will open some critical care beds." "It is a better way of managing health care," says Martin Lipsky, M.D., Dean of the Rockford College of Medicine. "Complicated patients can spend weeks to months in the hospital while recovering." City officials say more businesses in the area will help economic growth continue. "From an employment stand-point, obviously, it would be a net increase in jobs," says Jim Ryan, Rockford City Administrator. "That would be a very welcome addition to the city." The proposal is expected to go before the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board for approval on September 12th or 13th.