Kankakee, IL — The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has not yet issued a final decision regarding a possible suspension of St. Mary’s Hospital’s Level II emergency designation following the abrupt loss of its only on-call obstetric (OB) doctor. The uncertainty has sparked concern and frustration among residents and healthcare workers alike.
The situation escalated after the hospital’s contract with its OB provider ended, reportedly without a replacement plan in place. According to community members, this left the facility scrambling to maintain its Level II status—a designation that requires 24/7 specialist availability, including obstetric care.One community member voiced frustration online, saying, “When the contract is ended and no one will be paid after today, what did they expect?” The comment refers to the belief that Dr. Taylor, a local OB-GYN, was asked to remain on call for the emergency room without compensation—an effort to temporarily retain the hospital’s Level II designation. “Prime is solely responsible for the loss of their status,” the commenter continued, blaming Prime Healthcare, the parent company of St. Mary’s. “They should have thought about this before acting unethically.”Residents who once held high hopes for Prime Healthcare’s impact on the local community are now expressing disillusionment. “I thought Prime was to be great for our area… What a joke,” one user lamented.
The loss or suspension of the Level II designation could significantly affect emergency care services in the region, particularly for expectant mothers and patients needing urgent specialized treatment.At the time of this writing, IDPH has not confirmed a timeline for a ruling.
Community members and healthcare advocates are urging transparency and swift action to ensure that local residents continue to receive the critical care they need.
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