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A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE ACCESS THROUGH THE SALE AND CONTINUED OPERATION OF ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL AND HEALTH CENTER, BLUE ISLAND, ILLINOIS
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WHEREAS, St. Francis Hospital and Health Center is a licensed hospital located in Blue Island, Illinois, which for the past 103 years has provided a wide range of acute inpatient, emergency, and outpatient health care services to residents of south and southwest suburban communities; and
WHEREAS, the Hospital is known for its high quality health care, clinical service delivery and medical staff, and for its excellence in cardiac services as reflected in designation as a Solucient Top 100 Hospital for Cardiac Services in 6 of the last 8 years; and
WHEREAS, the Hospital provides critically important access to high quality hospital and other health care services to community residents, including those who are uninsured or who are Medicaid or Medicare beneficiaries; and
WHEREAS, the Hospital is essential to timely access to emergency medical and other health care services; the Hospital saw 40,000 emergency department visits in 2007; and
WHEREAS, SSM Healthcare Corporation (SSM) and other related not-for-profit entities currently own the Hospital, as well as a free-standing licensed home health agency and hospice; and
WHEREAS, approximately 1400 employees rely on SSM for employment in the Hospital, Home Health Agency and Hospice, and 366 physicians currently serve on the medical staff of the Hospital; the Hospital is the single largest employer in the City of Blue Island; and
WHEREAS, this continued operation of the Hospital, Home Health Agency and Hospice is essential to the health of the community, its residents, and to the economy of the City of Blue Island.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the President Pro Tem and Board of Trustees of the Village of Orland Park, Cook and Will Counties, Illinois as follows:
1. That the Village of Orland Park hereby supports the continued operation of St. Francis Hospital.
2. That this Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption and approval.