A new hospital in Roscoe promises less emergency treatment in Paula Keehn’s living room.
Recently, the former nurse, who worked for 49 years at a local hospital, helped a neighbor in distress.
“He had chopped off a third of his fingertip and didn’t know what to do,” Keehn recalled. “So I just dressed it the best I could.”
This ad-hoc treatment comes as Beloit Health System plans a “neighborhood hospital” at its NorthPointe Campus.
Although the cost is not yet known, the project will feature 10 private inpatient beds and a full-service emergency department. Keehn sees a strong need for such facilities in the area.
“People need immediate care, and if they’re open 24/7, they can go there and get stabilized,” said the retired nurse.
Keehn has experience with a similar setup in Belvidere. “We would stabilize patients and then either fly them out if they were trauma cases or send them by ambulance,” she explained.
Others in the region also welcome the convenience of a closer healthcare option. Tony McGee from South Beloit often travels to Beloit or further for treatment. A hospital in Roscoe would save him time, money on gas, and potentially improve his health.
“I have to travel a great distance to get to a nearby hospital, so this is going to be great for us,” said McGee. For the former Chicagoan, Beloit Health System’s proposal brings additional relief.
“In Chicago, it feels like there’s a hospital on every block,” McGee noted. “But here, they’re not as easy to find.”
Besides easing the “capacity strain” on local facilities, Beloit Health System also hopes to attract more medical professionals with the new hospital.
In a statement released Tuesday, Roger Kapoor, MD, MBA, and senior vice president of Beloit Health System, said, “Competition for physicians and advanced practice clinicians remains fierce. Investing in a modern new hospital positions our health system to attract top talent.”
While Beloit Health System was once Keehn’s professional competitor, her priority remains the well-being of the community.
“Whether it’s Beloit or Mercy, it doesn’t really matter. The important thing is that people get treated and cared for,” said the former nurse.
The neighborhood hospital is still awaiting approval, but construction could start as soon as 2025. The facility is expected to open in late 2026 or early 2027, bringing new healthcare and construction jobs to the area.
