Competing Emergency Center Proposals Voted Down by State Board

It appears that Frankfort will not be getting a freestanding emergency center anytime soon.

Two competing medical organizations were both issued an intent to deny their respective proposals by the Illinois Health and Facilities Review Board at a meeting Feb. 5.

Riverside Medical Center submitted its project application on Nov. 9, proposing a 10,000-square-foot, $10.3 million facility to be built at the corner of Steger Road and La Grange Road in unincorporated Frankfort.

Silver Cross Hospital, based in New Lenox, applied to build an emergency center in Frankfort less than two weeks later, proposing a 10,000-square-foot, $8.7 million facility at the intersection of Lincoln Highway and 93rd Avenue.

During each vote, board members repeatedly cited duplication and maldistribution of services as the reason for their unwillingness to approve the projects.

Riverside and Silver Cross can both submit an appeal to the board with supplementary information to strengthen their proposals. If the proposals are voted down again, they will receive a denial, but could still request an administrative hearing.

Maggie Frogge, senior vice president of corporate strategy for Riverside, says that Riverside will move forward with the project in the wake of the board’s decision.

Calls to Silver Cross for comment were not immediately returned.

Check back with Frankfort Patch for more in-depth reporting on the state board decision.

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