Kankakee, IL – St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee has officially suspended its Level II trauma designation, citing the loss of OB/GYN specialty coverage as a driving factor behind the change.
According to a memo issued Wednesday by CEO Otis L. Story Sr., the departure of longtime OB/GYN physician Dr. Taylor, who closed his Westwood OB practice effective May 16, has left the hospital without on-call OB/GYN coverage. This coverage is a required component to maintain Level II trauma status in Illinois. Hospital officials stated that the decision was made in collaboration with the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Over the past year, the hospital has also experienced a notable decline in Level II trauma patients. Despite efforts to secure a replacement, officials said maintaining consistent OB services and trauma capabilities became increasingly difficult under current conditions.
The change will not affect staffing levels or emergency room operations, the hospital emphasized. “Our board-certified physicians will continue to provide comprehensive, quality care for medical emergencies,” the memo stated, assuring that all current services including 24/7 surgical coverage and emergency readiness remain intact.
While EMS will now route specific trauma cases to alternate designated centers, all other patients will continue to be transported to St. Mary’s. The hospital also reaffirmed its long-term commitment to care improvements, announcing plans to establish new Centers of Excellence in specialties such as cardiology and orthopedic surgery, as well as upgrades to its electronic medical records and imaging systems.
The move is part of a larger $250 million investment by Prime Healthcare to improve hospital infrastructure across Illinois, including the creation of a new transfer coordination system called Care Connect.
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