Challenges continue to mount for Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan as it looks for its third CEO in less than two years, deals with the temporary reduction of overnight operations in its cardiac catheterization lab and has unpaid property taxes in excess of $1 million.
After Kevin M. Spiegel replaced Bianca Defilippi as CEO in October — she started when American Healthcare Systems (AHS) purchased Vista in July, 2023 — he took another position with an AHS hospital in Florida, placing interim CEO Aundrea Styles in charge on March 10.
Styles, AHS’s regional president for the midwest region, is Vista’s interim CEO as she leads the search for a permanent leader for Vista in Waukegan, according to a statement from the hospital. She also oversees AHS-owned Gateway Medical Center in downstate Granite City.
“As we navigate challenges, our focus remains clear — delivering high-quality care, strengthening operations and building a resilient future for Vista,” Styles said in the statement.
Vista is striving to overcome a series of recent setbacks as local leaders are becoming more and more concerned. The search for a new CEO, the hospital said is, “progressing and expected to conclude in the coming months.” Styles will support the new CEO in her regional president capacity.
Since January, Vista furloughed 69 non-medical employees, and has not brought them back despite indicating it would be a six-week layoff. A patient, Chelsea Adolphus, was found dead on the hospital roof on Jan. 23 and her family has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit. And, hours have been shortened in the cardiac catheterization lab.
Real estate taxes for 2024 — due in June and September installments — remain unpaid. Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega said Tuesday they were sold for more than $1 million to a tax buyer. Vista has until Nov. 13 to redeem them, or the buyer can take title to the property.
“We take our responsibility as taxpayers seriously and have plans in place to address any deficiencies,” Vista said in the statement, offering no further explanation of its plan.
Both state Sen. Adriane Johnson, D-Buffalo Grove, and Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor said the city must continue to have a regional hospital, and they are becoming more and more concerned about the hospital’s deteriorating situation.
“This will be the third CEO in less than three years,” Johnson said. “This high turnover does not signal good progress. Vista should pay its property taxes. We need a hospital in Waukegan and the surrounding community. I’m not fixated on AHS being the owner.”
Taylor said Vista is a privately owned hospital and makes its decisions on its own. She would like to see management become more transparent, giving its community partners a better idea of what is going on.
“They don’t tell us what’s happening until after it’s happened,” she said. “It’s a challenge,” she added, referring to the unpaid taxes. “I don’t know how they’re going to do it. They don’t discuss it with any of us.”
The latest change came Monday when Vista reduced the 24-hour operation of its cardiac catheterization lab to 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. weekdays, according to a Vista Press release issued Friday. It was done because of a “nationwide shortage of the specialized” professionals needed, the hospital said. It said it hopes to resume 24-hour operations in 60 days.
“We are not eliminating care — we are strengthening it by ensuring every patient receives expert treatment from a fully staffed, well-supported team,” Styles said in the statement.
Learning about the lab change when it was announced Friday, Taylor said the Waukegan Fire Department had to quickly adjust its emergency medical operations schedule. Instead of transporting cardiac patients to Vista, it had to prepare to take them to hospitals in Lake Forest or Libertyville.
“This is costing us money,” she said. “We have to add another shift, and have another ambulance available.”
Nort Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr. said in an email Tuesday the reduction of services for cardiac patients is “distressing.” The need for immediate tests and procedures for cardiovascular patients cannot be “overstressed,” he said.
“This reduction will require someone having a heart attack to be transported to a hospital farther away,” Rockingham said in the email. “Distance means more time and more time can mean life or death. A decision such as this has me questioning Vista’s commitment to our communities.”
Zion Mayor Billy McKinney said in an email that the residents of his city rely on the emergency services provided by Vista. He worries about any emergency room changes.
“Any reduction of these services will have a negative impact on our community,” he said in the email. “Furthermore, increased travel times and reduced access to professional medical care can also lead to poorer health outcomes, especially for vulnerable populations.”
With debt acquired from previous owner Quorum Health Corporation, Vista was continuing to operate at a loss as of late last year. Spiegel said in December many of the hospital’s patients have no insurance, or are underinsured. Payments from places like Medicaid are not sufficient.
Vista said in its statement that it is, “actively pursuing Safety Net Hospital designation to access critical funding that supports care for uninsured and underinsured patients. We remain optimistic and anticipate a decision in the coming months.”
Of the 69 employees furloughed in January, Vista said in its statement, “many of our ancillary and non-clinical staff have since returned.” Staffing needs are being evaluated to determine who else is needed,” it said.
