BOLINGBROOK — The fate of Saint Mary’s Hospital in Streator was finalized during a state health meeting yesterday. Members with the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review board unanimously approved the application submitted by Springfield-based Hospital Sisters Health System to close the hospital. HSHS has been with Saint Mary’s since the late 1800’s, but now state that because of their geographic location to Streator, they can “no longer provide sufficient services to the citizens of Streator,” according to one official.
Around 30 residents, mostly from Streator, came by a coach bus to the meeting in Bolingbrook. Several spoke during the two-and-a-half hour public comment portion of the meeting, all voicing their opposition of the hospital’s closure.
Several speakers, including Streator councilman William Phelan, stated that the drive times could be delayed by weather, including during the winter, and other traffic. One speaker stated that, “Its a tragedy waiting to happen if an emergency vehicle must race through several school zones during release times.” Councilman Phelan also was pressing the board to delay the application and have both HSHS and OSF HealthCare discuss a more detailed plan for Streator and it’s citizens.
Another speaker, Diane Muntz-Oldenburg, made sure the board knew that the hospital is a big part of the community. She boldly stated, “(The hospital) was built by the blood, sweat, and tears of the people of Streator, Illinois. It is ours and needs to stay.”
HSHS officials spoke to the board before their vote, mentioning a big drop in in-patient services and skyrocketing out-patient services. One other item that was also mentioned during the October public forum at Streator City Hall, was that 28 physicians were originally recruited to Saint Mary’s, and only one remains to this day.
Following the unanimous approval by the board, several people in attendance shouted at the board, one man shouting several expletives. Another shouted in tears that the hospital will be torn down. Others were blaming HSHS officials as they left the room, shouting “you will be the one to blame if any resident’s health fails after the closure.”
According to Kathy Olson, chairwoman of the board, a recent state law passed that says companies just have to complete an application of closure and discontinuation of services. While residents were shouting, Olson said, “There is nothing we can do.”
With the passing of the application, Saint Mary’s will close on January 4th, just after midnight.
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