Illinois Governor Quinn Announces $47 Million Investment in Cook County Area Hospitals - Aug 2013

State of Illinois
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 8, 2013

Investment to Create Jobs and Improve Local Health Care; Includes $3.5 Million for Mercy Hospital Patient Tower Renovation

	CHICAGO – Governor Pat Quinn today announced $47 million in investments in Cook County area hospitals as part of the Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program. The investments will create jobs and address the critical needs of local hospitals that serve a large number of the state’s most in-need patients. Today’s announcement follows Governor Quinn’s recent signing of a law that enacted the largest increase in health insurance coverage in state history, one of the Governor’s 2013 legislative priorities. “These Cook County hospitals serve the health care needs of some of the state’s most in-need residents,” Governor Quinn said. “These investments create hundreds of good construction jobs while helping these hospitals provide better service to the thousands of patients they serve every single day.” The investments announced today include $3.5 million to Mercy Hospital, the site of today’s event, to renovate their patient tower. “We are pleased to receive these critical grant funds that will be used to continue our patient tower renovation and enhance the patient care experience for all those that we serve each day,” Mercy Hospital President and CEO Carol Schneider said. “These grants will greatly help Mount Sinai and Holy Cross Hospitals, both part of Sinai Health System, create necessary and vital improvements,” Sinai Health System President and CEO Alan Channing said. “Each hospital is a critical part of the Illinois healthcare safety net and will make excellent use of this funding to better care for patients in challenged communities.” So far under Governor Quinn’s Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program, private hospitals have received $150 million for critical health care needs. The other hospitals in Cook County that will receive Illinois Jobs Now! funding include: Holy Cross Hospital, Chicago, $3.5 million for equipment upgrades. Ingalls Memorial Hospital, Harvey, $2.3 million for new equipment and HVAC upgrades. Jackson Park Hospital, Chicago, $3.5 million to renovate Women’s Health Services. LaRabida Children’s Hospital, Chicago, $2.3 million to construct a new building and renovate existing space. Loretto Hospital, Chicago, $3.5 million to renovate clinical space and upgrade equipment. MacNeal Hospital, Berwyn, $2.3 million to renovate medical/surgical units. Mt. Sinai Hospital, Chicago, $3.5 million for building renovation. Norwegian American Hospital, Chicago, $3.5 million for building renovation and equipment upgrades. Presence Saints Mary & Elizabeth Medical Center, Chicago, $3.5 million for equipment upgrades. Roseland Community Hospital, Chicago, $3.5 million to renovate obstetrics and surgery areas. St. Anthony Hospital, Chicago, $3.5 million for new medical and IT equipment. St. Bernard Hospital, Chicago, $3.5 million for roof replacement and building renovation. St. James Hospital, Olympia Fields, $2.3 million to replace chillers, boiler and a generator. Swedish Covenant Hospital, Chicago, $3.5 million to construct an Ambulatory Care Building.

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RAW TAPE: Governor announces $47 million investment in Cook County area hospitals. Audio includes Governor Pat Quinn, IDPH Director LaMar Hasbrouck and Chicago Alderman Willie Cochran.

http://www3.illinois.gov/PressReleases/PressReleasesListShow.cfm?RecNum=11418