St. Margaret’s Health to explore reclassifying area facility to a Rural Emergency Hospital

SPRING VALLEY – St. Margaret’s Health, which manages hospitals in Spring Valley and in Peru, is looking to reclassify one of their facilities to a Rural Emergency Hospital. Either SMH-Spring Valley or SMH-Peru could potentially qualify for the designation, however, no decision has been made. According to a press release from SMH, they say the intent would be for the other hospital to remain a full-service hospital. It was also announced that they have put on hold its application to State regulators to discontinue emergency and inpatient services at St. Margaret’s Health-Spring Valley.
The Rural Emergency Hospital designation allows for provision of emergency services, observation care and other outpatient services. Conversion of one of the St. Margaret’s facilities to an REH would give St. Margaret’s the flexibility to continue its consolidation of services and reduce duplication, while still providing emergency services at both locations. The REH designation also comes with significantly higher payment rates from Medicare. They also noted they are actively working with our local State legislators – Representative Lance Yednock and Senator Sue Rezin – to facilitate the incorporation of the REH designation into the Illinois Hospital
Licensing Act.