Hospital in southern Illinois to seek approval for expansion
HARRISBURG, Ill. (AP) — A hospital in southern Illinois plans to seek state approval for a multi-million dollar expansion of its emergency, surgery and behavioral health departments. Harrisburg Medical Center CEO Rodney Smith announced the plans Tuesday. The renovation would cost between $12 million and $15 million. Smith says he hopes construction could launch in the late summer. Money would come from the hospital's foundation, donations from the community and traditional financing. Plans include an expanded entrance and lobby, a new emergency room, new surgery suites and additional beds in the behavioral health unit. Smith says the hospital serves five counties in southern Illinois. Smith says the emergency room is handling twice as many patients as it was designed for two decades ago.