A growing health care company wants to help fill what it sees as a health care desert on Galesburg’s south side. Graham Health, which operates two and has broken ground on a third facility in Galesburg, confirms it is exploring locations for a primary care clinic in the city’s Fourth Ward area.
Graham Health System CEO and President Bob Senneff and city of Galesburg officials including Fourth Ward Alderman Dwight White toured the city’s south side last week in search for possible locations for a new clinic.
“We feel like there are fewer resources on that side of town, specifically the Fourth Ward,” Senneff said. “There are a number of deserts there, so to speak, as far as a grocery store, public transportation and even health care. Everything in terms of health care is north of the downtown area.
“So, we’re pursuing opportunities in that part of the city.”
Senneff said Graham has “a really good relationship” with White — along with city officials — and is looking forward to helping fill a gap on Galesburg’s south side.
“We understand health care is local, but even in a bigger community like Galesburg, local just doesn’t mean in the city, there needs to be impact on the neighborhoods as well,” Senneff said.
Adding a Fourth Ward clinic is in the “really initial” stages, according to Senneff, who added, “If it’s a 10-step project, we are in step 2.”
South side has lacked health care for decades
White, a longtime resident of Galesburg’s Fourth Ward, said with the exception of the former St. Mary’s Hospital on South Cherry Street, he does not recall Galesburg’s south side ever having a health care facility.
“I’m elated about the possibility of getting a clinic in the Fourth Ward,” White said. “Let’s face it — there’s not a lot in our ward. So for Graham to want to put a clinic here would just be outstanding.
“It would let people know you are at least paying attention to their needs. Some people would be within walking distance of a clinic, and not have to take a bus or cab to the north side of town to get medical care.”
Galesburg Mayor Peter Schwartzman said Graham Health System has already made “important and significant” investments in Galesburg.
“I don’t know much about the plan, but I think it would be wonderful if Graham could bring a medical center to the southwest side of town,” Schwartzman said. “With the loss of Cottage, which was located in the center of town, a big void was created, and Graham and others have done a marvelous job of filling it.”
Senneff said it would be Graham’s preference to find an existing building and to a remodel for a south side primary care clinic.
“It’s much easier, much quicker and there’s obviously a cost factor,” Senneff said. “We’ve spent one morning there and didn’t find a perfect location, and there’s probably not one. So we’ll keep looking and moving forward.”
Graham has been aggressive in Galesburg
Graham has been aggressive in Galesburg since the sudden failure of Cottage Hospital in early 2022. Graham Medical Group’s Convenient Care clinic opened Sept. 6, 2022, at 1174 N. Seminary St. in the former Hayden Chiropractic Clinic.
And Graham’s Galesburg Family Medicine & Specialty Care Clinic opened in June at 530 N. Seminary St.
Additionally, Graham acquired 36 acres of property on North Seminary Street. At 2300 N. Seminary St., Graham will build a new 13,000 square foot facility where Primary Care, multiple Specialty Practices, as well as laboratory, imaging and endoscopy services will be provided. Groundbreaking began this month, with the proposed opening of this clinic being September of 2024.
“We’re excited to see what the future holds for that location. And we envision additional growth on that building in the future,” said Graham Health Vice President of Clinic Operations Michelle Daly.
Once the new clinic is complete on far North Seminary Street, Graham will shift providers from the Seminary and Grove clinic to the larger one at 2300 N. Seminary St. The former Medical Arts Clinic will then be repurposed for therapy and cardiac rehab, along with and some other specialties.
A south side facility, according to Senneff, would be a family practice clinic that would be open weekdays.
“We don’t really feel there’s a need for additional prompt care or 7-day-a-week clinics in Galesburg,” Senneff said. “Between OSF and ourselves, we feel that is covered.
“We just feel like we need to be in that part of the city and start those long-term relationships.”
Ken Springer, president of Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development, noted he has been working with Graham and he would welcome expansion to the the south side of Galesburg.
“Should the project materialize, a south side medical office would help serve area residents and businesses and it could also become an anchor for additional development in the area,” he said.
Graham Health System consists of eight clinic locations serving the Galesburg, Canton, Elmwood, Farmington, Lewistown, Macomb and Williamsfield. Graham also staffs six specialty clinics (General Surgery, Orthopedics, ENT, OB-GYN, Podiatry, and Wound) in Havana, in partnership with Mason District Hospital. Graham Medical Group specializes in Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ear Nose & Throat, Podiatry, Urology, Wound Care, Vascular, Pain Management and Breast Surgery.
CEO: There’s not a shortage of hospital beds in Galesburg
Graham had explored purchasing Cottage Hospital, according to Senneff. He said Graham has been eyeing the Galesburg for some time.
“We had good conversations with Cottage prior to them closing the doors and turning the lights off, but that was not doable from a financial perspective and we obviously had some trust issues with the former owners,” Senneff said. “So we moved on from that opportunity, but knew we wanted to be in Galesburg.
“We feel like we can complement what OSF has done for many, many years, and hopefully recreate that culture that the old Cottage had, in terms of a family feel and a real community hospital.”
After being a two-hospital town for many decades, OSF St. Mary Medical Center is now the lone inpatient hospital in Galesburg. However based on recent trends in medical treatment, Senneff does not believe there is a shortage of hospital beds in Galesburg.
“I don’t believe so,” he said. “For the typical community hospital, 75 to 80% of the revenue is from outpatient services. Folks don’t usually stay 4 or 5 days any more when they have a baby, and they don’t stay 3 or 4 days when they have their gallbladder out. The inpatient days have come down significantly.”
Economic development leader: Dependable health care is important
Senneff said the Galesburg market fits within the Graham Health System model of providing rural health care.
“We saw the demise of Cottage coming, but the doors closed a little quicker than we expected,” Senneff said. “We have a really good understanding of rural health care and the need to keep care as close to home as possible. That’s our mission — to keep as much local as possible, and still have great relationships with a St. Francis or a Methodist in Peoria when our folks need to go to a higher level of care.
“We’ve grown quickly, but we’ve also grown in a very controlled and purposed manner.”
Springer said quality of life issues like health care have become increasingly important to communities for attracting and retaining residents and workforce.
“Knox County is fortunate to have a large regional hospital and multiple additional health care providers in the market,” Springer said. “Healthcare, like housing and education, is something that comes up fairly often when KCAP is talking to companies about our community.”
