(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Vista Medical Center East, a hospital in Waukegan, has regained its designation as a trauma center almost one month after it was revoked by state regulators.
The Illinois Department of Public Health claimed Vista Medical Center East lacked essential medical services to be a Level II trauma facility, as well as a blood bank and a full-time trauma coordinator. This week, though, state health officials agreed to reinstate Vista as a trauma center.
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek raised concerns after she said medical professionals were leaving Vista because they had not been paid.
"With the exodus of those clinical providers, that affected patient care," Banek said. "I was also hearing that vendors were not being compensated for supplies and services that they were providing."
Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor pointed out that American Healthcare Systems became the new owner of Vista during the summer of 2023, and she said the company has been dealing with longstanding financial issues at the hospital.
"We need to give them some time, and they have said that they are very dedicated to this community," said Taylor. "They want to be part of this community."
Banek and Taylor said they are both confident that Vista meets trauma center requirements after working with the state health department, but both officials added that they will keep watching the hospital to make sure it continues on the right path.
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