State approves Rush-Copley emergency center

January 14, 2010

On Tuesday, Rush-Copley was approved by the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board (IHFSRB) to build a Freestanding Emergency Center (FEC) on the Rush-Copley Healthcare Center campus in Yorkville. The facility will be the first center of its kind in Kendall County. “We applaud the decision reached yesterday by the IHFSRB as they have recognized the growing demand for healthcare services in Yorkville and Kendall County,” said Barry C. Finn, Rush-Copley president and CEO.  “As the leading medical care provider to this community, Rush-Copley is committed to accommodating the growing needs of patients with enhanced facilities and the quality care that residents can depend on now and into the future.”

In announcing the decision at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Valerie Burd said, “I think we’re united in congratulating Rush-Copley on the approval of the Emergency Center. It will be nice to have those services so close to home.”

The $6.3 million, 6,414 square foot FEC will provide 24-hour service and will be staffed by certified emergency physicians and emergency-trained nurses. The FEC will be supported by comprehensive ancillary services including general radiology, MRI, CT, mammography, ultrasound and laboratory – services already available at Rush-Copley Healthcare Center in Yorkville.

In addition, the FEC will enhance the facility’s current Convenient Care services that offer treatment for non-life threatening injuries and ailments such as ankle sprains, sore throats and sinus infections. The FEC will treat patients with injuries and illnesses such as broken bones, burns and allergic reactions. Patients with more critical needs like those suffering from a heart attack or stroke would be transported to a local hospital emergency room.

Plans for fully developing the FEC including a construction timeline will be released at a later date.

Project history

Rush-Copley filed a Certificate of Need for the emergency center with the state board in November, 2008, citing overcrowding at the emergency room at the hospital on Route 34 in Aurora, with many of those patients coming from Kendall County Administrators of Valley West Community Hospital in Sandwich objected to the proposal and asked for a public hearing on the plan, which was held in January 2009. They said there were other hospital emergency rooms and urgent care facilities within an 18-mile radius of Rush-Copley’s site in Yorkville. In September, the IHFSRB voted 2-1 to approve Rush-Copley’s request. At that time, the board had just three members and a majority of the full, five-member board, was required for approval. Rush-Copley administrators said then that they would likely re-submit their application, hoping for approval.