In Brief: Indiana University Tables Critical Care Tower; Feds Raid Chicago Clinic
Indiana University Health Tables Critical Care Tower
The Indiana University Health system has decided to indefinitely postpone construction on a new 250-bed inpatient critical care tower.
The postponement of the project, originally announced in 2010, was driven by a lingering recession and uncertainties connected to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, hospital officials told the Indianapolis Star.
The system had launched a $100 million fundraising campaign in connection with the construction project, which was estimated to cost between $375 million and $500 million. The money will be retained for the project, although Indiana University Health officials have provided no guidance as to when it would commence. No timeline was offered when plans for the tower were originally announced.
Alexian Brothers Opens New Hospital
The Alexian Brothers Health System will open this week a new $125 million women's and children's hospital adjoining St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates, Ill.
The 210,000-square-foot hospital includes a 16-bed neonatal intensive care unit, a 38-bed birthing center and specialty services such as autism care.
The facility is expected to serve as many as 48,000 patients during its first calendar year of operation.
The five-hospital Alexian Brothers system is located in the suburbs of Chicago.
Feds Raid Chicago Clinic
Federal agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and other agencies raided a Chicago outpatient clinic last week and shut it down after serving search warrants.
Few details were available about the Thursday raid at the Midtown Medical Center, which provides internal medicine and cardiology services and also operates a small pharmacy.
Published reports suggested that the clinic had been dispensing prescription painkillers illegally. Witnesses said the facility often had long lines stretching onto the sidewalk during the day.
Along with the DEA, agents from the Internal Revenue Service and the Chicago Police Department were also on the scene.
