Quincy (Ill.) Medical Group's proposed $19.5 million surgery and cancer treatment center will be discussed at a public meeting in January, the Herald-Whig reports.
Here are five insights:
1. The Illinois Health Facilities and Review Board will accept written and public comments during the meeting, which was requested by Quincy-based Blessing Hospital. The review board plans to approve or deny QMG's application at its March 5 meeting.
2. Located in a former Quincy department store, the ambulatory treatment center would have an estimated five operating rooms and three procedure rooms. It would offer cardiac catheterization services, as well as endoscopy and ophthalmology laser surgery.
3. QMG's application said insurers or employers divert many orthopedic surgery cases to facilities outside Quincy for better pricing and provider choice. QMG's proposed ambulatory and cancer center is intended to expand surgery hours and offer lower-cost services compared to hospital outpatient settings.
4. The region lacks neurosurgery services, urological service availability and ENT procedure availability, according to QMG.
5. If the proposal is approved, construction on the new center could be complete by March 1, 2021.