Member News Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 10, 2007
Swedish American Hospital acquires Northwest Suburban Community Hospital in Belvedere
Swedish American Hospital has been granted approval by the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board to acquire Northwest Suburban Community Hospital in Belvidere. The action was taken Tuesday morning (December 4) at the Board's meeting in Chicago. Officials at Swedish American said they expect to close on the transaction within the next few weeks.
"We are pleased to complete this important step in the process and we look forward to providing expanded medical services to this growing part of our region," said Dr. Bill Gorski, President and CEO of Swedish American.
During the next year, SwedishAmerican will completely renovate the Emergency Department and Outpatient areas of the Hospital, which will be named SwedishAmerican Medical Center/Belvidere once the renovations are complete. Board certified doctors will staff the Emergency Department 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The exterior will also see new separate entrances for ambulances, emergency walk-ins, and outpatient testing. It is expected to take up to 12 months to complete the renovation.
During the transition, SwedishAmerican will operate the facility and maintain services at the current level as required by the State of Illinois.
SwedishAmerican updated its plans for health services in the greater Belvidere community after analyzing information from a University of Illinois College of Medicine-Rockford community health study that was conducted in 2006. In January, 2007, Northwest Suburban announced it would be closing its bariatric surgical program at the facility and SwedishAmerican entered into negotiations and completed due diligence to acquire the hospital. In September, SwedishAmerican participated in a bankruptcy auction and had the winning bid of million.
"This has been a very complex legal, regulatory, and financial process, but the end result is that residents of Belvidere and the surrounding areas will have expanded healthcare options," said Dr. Gorski.