Vote happening Tuesday on approving an ER in Streator

The next hurdle to jump over for Streator to have an emergency room comes Tuesday.

The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board will vote on whether or not to allow a freestanding emergency room in the old St. Mary’s Hospital. OSF HealthCare took over the old hospital and wants to have only outpatient care in Streator at a yet to be built outpatient clinic. For emergencies they’ve agreed to pursue an ER in the old St. Mary’s.

To get this far the House and Senate and eventually the governor all had to agree to a bill that made an exception for Streator to have a stand alone ER. If the facilities board approves the idea Tuesday, the next step is for the Illinois Department of Public Health to license the ER.