WAUKEGAN (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - The state stripped Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan of its trauma center designation on Friday.
State Senator Adriane Johnson of Buffalo Grove said people with serious injuries will have to go to a hospital over 20 minutes away, and lives will be lost unless something changes.
The Illinois Department of Public Health revoked Vista’s designation as a level two trauma center over a lack of several services including a blood bank, anesthesia and full-time trauma coordinator.
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek, who is also a certified registered nurse anesthetist at the hospital, plans to hold a press conference at 3 p.m. this afternoon with the county health department to talk about the impact.
She has raised concerns about groups of doctors leaving the center after it recently changed ownership and plans to talk publicly about the impact of the revocation.
Listen to our new podcast Looped In: Chicago
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!
Sign up and follow WBBM Newsradio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram I TikTok