The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review board paved the way for construction to begin on the new Sarah Bush Lincoln Bonutti Clinic.
The six-member board voted 5-0 today in favor of approving the certificate of need (CON) application submitted this summer by Sarah Bush Lincoln. One member was absent.
Sarah Bush Lincoln President and CEO Jerry Esker expressed his gratitude to the community for supporting this important project and to the State for granting the CON permit. “We were overwhelmed by the outpouring of support by the Effingham community during the phases of the CON application process. We are grateful the State board members agreed with our application and understood the need for a new building.”
The board met remotely by Webex and listened to testimony presented by Sarah Bush Lincoln and HSHS, the corporation that owns St. Anthony Hospital.
Testifying on behalf of Sarah Bush Lincoln was SBL President & CEO Jerry Esker, Orthopedic Surgeon Peter Bonutti, and SBL Planning Director Erica Stollard. Providing public comment from the community were State Sen. Dale Righter (R), SBL VP Operations Kim Uphoff, Grunloh Construction owner Tom Grunloh, McCarthy Construction Project Manager Andy Poirot, Effingham Private Equity Investment Manager Jim Schultz, SBL Chief Financial Officer Dennis Pluard, SBL Board Member Anya Schuetz and Orthopedic Surgeon Didi Omiyi, MD.
The new clinic will house the Bonutti Orthopedics, Occupational Medicine, Walk-In Clinic, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and Interventional Pain Management clinics as well as diagnostic imaging, physical and occupational therapy featuring an in-ground therapy pool and a lab station.
Construction bids will be let for the $35 million replacement medical office building that will be constructed behind the SBL Bonutti Clinic. Upon completion, the current building will be torn down to make room for the parking lot. The two-story contemporary building will be visible to motorists on I-70.