The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board (HFSRB) reviewed Quincy Medical Group’s (QMG) Certificate of Need application for a small-format hospital, QMG Hospital, at their board meeting today. The HFSRB issued an Intent to Deny, a designation that is not uncommon for proposed projects and one that allows QMG to submit additional information for the board’s consideration.
QMG CEO Carol Brockmiller said, “We appreciated the opportunity to present our proposed project today. Two members of the CON Board called the QMG Hospital project a ‘breath of fresh air’ and we couldn’t agree more. Limited healthcare options have resulted in Quincy-area residents paying disproportionately high rates for healthcare. We remain steadfast in our commitment to this project and our commitment to drive down healthcare costs in our community and make the very best in patient care accessible to all. We respect the HFSRB’s feedback on our project and look forward to providing additional information.”
Upon receipt of QMG’s additional information, the HFSRB staff will review and submit its findings to the HFSRB and issue a supplemental report. HFSRB rules requires six votes for project approval and six board members constitute a quorum. The Board allows for 11 members. Six of the seven current board members were present for the QMG Hospital project.
QMG’s proposed small-format hospital would feature 25 med-surg beds; 3 labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum or LDRP rooms, an emergency department with 10 bays; a C-section suite; 3 operating rooms; and 1 procedure room. The proposal also includes a post-anesthesia care unit, laboratory, pharmacy, and imaging department. Three of the medical-surgical beds would be equipped to serve as negative pressure rooms, or isolation rooms, to aid in infectious disease outbreaks.
The proposed QMG Hospital will be located on the campus of the Quincy Town Center. The Quincy Town Center is already home to the QMG Surgery Center and Cancer Institute.
Dr. Todd Petty, QMG Surgeon and Board Chair said “We are humbled by the hundreds of patients who have told the certificate of need board they want and need this hospital. We are confident that with additional information, the HFSRB will approve the project.” The community is overwhelmingly supportive and understands that we pay more for hospital-based care.”