Pittsfield, Ill., hospital plans geriatric psych unit

PITTSFIELD, Ill. -- A western Illinois hospital is asking state regulators for authorization to open a psychiatric unit for older patients.

Illini Community Hospital in Pittsfield wants state approval for a 10-bed unit that would serve west-central Illinois and northeastern Missouri.

Hospital CEO Kathy Hull tells The Quincy Herald-Whig the region is "a wasteland for geriatric psychiatric services." The project would cost $3.28 million and first must be approved by the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board. The board will consider the project at a meeting in March.

Illini Community Hospital is part of the Quincy-based Blessing Health System.

The geriatric unit would serve patients in Adams, Pike, Calhoun, Greene, Hancock and Scott counties in Illinois, and Marion, Ralls, Lincoln and Pike counties in Missouri.

Information from: The Quincy Herald-Whig, http://www.whig.com