Waukegan medical center regains trauma center designation
WAUKEGAN, Ill. — A medical center in Waukegan has regained its trauma center designation after it was stripped last month by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).
The news came in a memo sent out on Monday by IDPH that said the department had reinstated the trauma center designation of Waukegan’s Vista Medical Center East.
WGN-TV spoke with Bianca DeFilippi, the facility’s CEO, about what’s changed over the last month and what is expected in the months ahead.
Read more: Latest Chicago news headline
“We are proud of the work we do at the hospital. There is an overwhelming feeling of joy for that being recognized,” DeFilippi said.
It is a step in the right direction after a cloud of controversy hung over the hospital during the last few months, following its purchase by American Healthcare Systems (AHS) back in July.
WGN-TV previously reported the concerns that were raised back in December by Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek, who had previously done contractual work at Vista, as a nurse anesthetist.
“I feel like I blew down this house of cards,” Banek said.
The concerns included everything from declining birth rates to problems with payments for services rendered at the hospital. The latter is an issue that DeFilippi says is still being ironed out.
“Just as we’ve been working on the hospital, our vendors have been supportive in working out payment plans we can stick to and what our future looks like together,” DeFilippi said.
LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland
But DeFilippi said there have been a number of changes for the better over the last few weeks.
“I think that since we last spoke, we’ve had redesignation for stroke center, once again a stroke center,” DeFilippi said.
Officials said new doctors are coming on board and there is a real focus pushing forward on preventive healthcare. But should people need the help of a hospital, DeFilippi said Vista, is ready.
“Our ER is open, our outpatient centers are open, and we provide quality care. The community should feel comfortable coming to Vista to get their care.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
