Wheaton Healthcare
The Growth of Innovative Healthcare in Wheaton
By Becky Cline and Kristin Roberts
The city of Wheaton’s medical community is developing by leaps and bounds, offering modern facilities and expanded service offerings to residents in and around the area. From major healthcare institutions to specialized practices, Wheaton’s healthcare providers and their valued patients are enjoying significant advancement in available health and wellness opportunities.
This year alone, Central DuPage Hospital announced two major plans for the future of its facility. As the hospital celebrated its recognition as one of the Top 100 Hospitals in the U.S. by Solucient in mid-May, it also reported its Fall 2008 groundbreaking for the new Bed Pavilion, which will feature sizable, all-private rooms.
“All-private rooms offer a myriad of benefits for enhanced patient care, with additional space for more hands-on bedside care, to accommodate current and future technology, and to enable families to visit comfortably,” said Larry Bell, Director of Construction for Central DuPage Hospital, in a May 14th press release. In addition, the new Bed Pavilion, which has plans for location on the southwest corner of the hospital’s campus, will be built along “green” standards in order to meet environmental concerns. It will feature a 150-seat conference center, a modern medical library and more than 100 extra parking spaces.
More recently, the hospital announced its plans to embark on a joint venture with ProCure Treatment Centers, Inc. and Radiation Oncology Consultants, Ltd. to become the first healthcare institution in the state and eighth in the country to offer Proton Beam Therapy, an innovative cancer treatment. “We will have the capacity to treat up to 1,500 cancer patients a year,” said Luke McGuinness, Chief Executive Officer of CDH, in a July 10th press release provided by the hospital. “This is the most precise form of radiation treatment available. Patients will have the best treatment, from the best physicians.” Patient treatment is slated for use by 2010.
In September of 2006, Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, situated within the Wheaton community, opened its premier free-standing rehabilitation hospital, complete with 120 private rooms an enabling garden, a soundproof meditation room, and a two-story chapel. “We are witnessing an American population that is aging significantly as the baby boom population reaches its golden years,” explained Kathleen Yosko, Marianjoy President and CEO. “With the new hospital facility, Marianjoy is prepared to address these trends, which is projected to increase inpatient rehabilitation discharges 18 percent by the year 2010.”
On top of this, Marianjoy has started a major renovation to its previous facility, with the construction of a new outpatient rehabilitation pavilion, expected to be complete by October of 2007. The new pavilion will feature ultra-modern gymnasiums, a therapy pool, private treatment rooms, lymphedema treatment areas, extensive recreational spaces and a comprehensive balance and vestibular evaluation clinic.
The Wheaton Eye Clinic recently marked a new chapter in its 65-year history by opening the much-anticipated DuPage Eye Surgery Center in May of 2007. Built at a cost of $4.2 million, the new 8,500 square foot ambulatory center adjoins the current clinic location on North Main Street. “We are very excited to offer the convenience and high technology of this center to our patients,” stated Dr. Byron Tabbut, Wheaton Eye Clinic President.
The surgical facility encompasses three operating rooms, as well as ample space needed to contain all the ancillary services related to pre-operation, recovery, family waiting areas and necessary support services. The new surgery center is expected to handle up to 5,000 cataract, corneal, glaucoma, retinal and oculoplastic surgeries each year.
DuPage Medical Group—the largest independent, multi-specialty medical group in the west suburbs—has recently added several new specialties to its already wide spectrum of services, as well as two new facilities, in neighboring communities. Recent service additions include Oncology in Naperville, Rheumatology in Oakbrook Terrace and Naperville, and Ophthalmology in Glen Ellyn.
The group’s latest facilities are located a stones throw away in Warrenville and Naperville. The Institute of Aesthetic Surgery in Warrenville is an upscale facility servicing those seeking aesthetic surgery of the face and body, minimally invasive aesthetic medical procedures and spa services. The group also recently purchased a new building in Naperville at the corner of Rickert and Ogden, which will provide up-to-date diagnostic care coupled with an array of additional specialties. To access DuPage Medical Group’s latest news, visit www.dupagemedicalgroup.com.
Wheaton’s medical community is entering a new phase, with the aim to provide the best, most up-to-date services and facilities for residents of the western suburbs. These latest expansions and additions are only the beginning, as there is surely much more to come in health innovation.
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