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Objection To New MercyRockford Campus Says St. Anthony Could Lose 200 Jobs

Mercy Rockford Health System
Artist's rendering of the planned $400 million Rockford Health System Riverside Campus

OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center could be forced to cut the equivalent of 200 full-time jobs if the Rockford Health System Riverside Campus is built on the east side.

That is one of several objections raised about the project ina letter from St. Anthony CEO and President Paula Carynski filed last week with the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board.

An outside analysis by Deloitte Financial Advisory Services found OSF Saint Anthony would lose $23.8 million in revenue plus almost $9.9 million in gifts annually – leading to the cutback in jobs, according to the letter.

The OSF Saint Anthony objection also says the new 188-bed medical facility is not needed because the hospital capacity at the current Rockford Memorial Hospital, Swedish-American Hospital and OSF Saint Anthony is underused.

The complaint says Rockford Memorial Hospital could expand on site because it owns several properties surrounding its current location. It adds that planned shifting of services will negatively affect residents of Rockford’s west side, the complaint says. 

Dr. Bill Gorski, President/CEO of Swedish-American Health System told the Rockford Register Star that has decided not to file an objection to the plan. A division of UW Health, Swedish-American operates Rockford's third hospital.

The deadline for written comment is November 28.

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