Lurie Children’s Hospital Plans First Suburban Hospital in Downers Grove
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A new children’s hospital is in the planning stages for the Downers Grove area, marking a important expansion for Lurie Children’s Hospital adn addressing a growing gap in pediatric care access for families in the western suburbs.The proposed facility represents lurie’s first venture with inpatient beds outside of its flagship hospital in Streeterville.
Addressing a Critical Need in the Western Suburbs
The decision to expand into Downers Grove comes as community hospitals across Illinois have increasingly scaled back or closed their pediatric units in recent years. According to Lurie, nearly half – 47% – of children in the western suburbs currently must leave their local communities to receive overnight hospital care. This new hospital aims to reverse that trend, providing crucial services closer to home.
“This new facility represents a significant and needed investment in local health infrastructure and pediatric health,” stated Downers Grove Mayor Bob Barnett in a press release.
Facility Details and Scope of Care
The planned hospital is envisioned as a low-acuity facility, focusing on children who require hospital-level care but not the moast complex, specialized treatments offered at Lurie’s downtown location. the hospital is projected to include approximately 40 to 50 inpatient beds, an emergency department with around 40 rooms, and dedicated surgery suites.
Subspecialties such as oncology, cardiology, gastroenterology, and orthopedics will also be offered, according to Dr. Tom Shanley, lurie president and CEO. This comprehensive approach aims to meet a broad range of pediatric healthcare needs within the community.
While the project is underway, it is still subject to approval from the state Health Facilities and services Review Board. Lurie has not yet submitted a formal application. If approved, the hospital could potentially open in late 2028 or early 2029.The total project cost remains undisclosed at this time.
Part of a Larger Expansion Strategy
this expansion is not an isolated event. Lurie Children’s Hospital has been actively growing its presence throughout the Chicago area. The hospital recently opened a 75,000-square-foot outpatient center in Schaumburg, adding to its network of over 20 outpatient facilities. Lurie has also established partnerships with 10 Chicago-area hospitals and is planning a new community health center in the Austin neighborhood this fall.
This broader strategy reflects a trend among Chicago-area health systems, with many investing in new outpatient facilities and hospital acquisitions.
The Changing Landscape of Pediatric Care
The closure of pediatric units in community hospitals is a growing concern. More than 20 hospitals in the chicago area have closed these units as 2012, driven by factors such as the increasing availability of outpatient procedures and competition from specialized children’s hospitals like Lurie, Advocate Children’s Hospital, and UChicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital. Families seeking complex pediatric care are increasingly directed to these specialized centers.
Why: Lurie Children’s Hospital is expanding to address a critical gap in pediatric care access in the western suburbs of chicago, where nearly half of children currently need to leave their local communities for overnight hospital care.
