HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, Ill., is planning a significant expansion just seven years after it opened. The hospital has experienced rapid growth, particularly in its emergency department, where patient numbers have more than doubled from 70 daily visits before the move to over 140 daily visits today.
To meet the demand, hospital administrators are proposing a $50 million project to add a three-story, 20,000-SF ambulatory surgical center to the campus. The expansion aims to address the growing need for outpatient surgical services and to shift specific procedures out of the hospital’s main facilities.
By relocating outpatient care, the hospital can focus on more complex medical services such as cardiac, neurological, and cancer treatments that require larger capacities and specialized equipment. The new center will improve access to these surgeries within the local area, reducing the need for patients to travel out of state for care.
The expansion would include 70,000 SF of office space in addition to the surgical center, allowing existing medical practices to expand their staff and accommodate more patients. The hospital is located in a rapidly growing region, and this development will enable St. Elizabeth’s to keep pace with the increasing healthcare demands of the community.
Pending approval from the Illinois Department of Public Health, construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2025, with completion anticipated by the end of 2026. Local officials, including O'Fallon’s Mayor Herb Roach, have voiced strong support for the project, emphasizing the necessity of expanding healthcare services in the area.
HSHS, sponsored by the Hospital Sisters Ministries and founded by the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, operates a network of hospitals across central and southern Illinois and eastern Wisconsin. In the Metro East region, HSHS runs several hospitals in addition to St. Elizabeth’s, including facilities in Breese, Highland, and Greenville.
The planned expansion in O’Fallon reflects the health system’s commitment to meeting the needs of growing communities with advanced medical services.
Header image: HSHS St. Elizabeth's Hospital located in O'Fallon, Ill. Image courtesy of HSHS St. Elizabeth's Hospital