By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
In the past week, City of Burlington Mayor Bob Miller hasn’t heard anything negative about the Aurora Medical Group’s $100 million commitment to the area.
Almost two weeks ago, Aurora announced it would dedicate $30 million to renovations at Aurora Memorial Hospital of Burlington and Lakeland Medical Center near Elkhorn, and the other $70 million would go for a new ambulatory surgery clinic on the outskirts of Burlington, physician recruitment, an urgent care clinic in Delavan and a new clinic in Walworth County.
“I have yet to receive any negative comments,” said Miller, who lobbied Aurora on behalf of the city to keep a robust presence in Burlington after the hospital’s birthing department was eliminated in 2012.
While Miller says the comments have been positive, there are still questions to be answered.
“I don’t have any answers for them,” Miller said, regarding questions asked by residents.
Aurora doesn’t have the answers either – at least not now. Among the questions being asked are those about what services will remain in Burlington, what services may return – namely obstetric services – and what services will be provided at the day surgery facility.
That facility will be located on Spring Valley Road near Highway 36. Aurora is in the middle of a due-diligence period to finalize purchase of the land.
In the meantime, the questions are flying. Aurora’s senior Communications Representative Adam Beeson said Tuesday that answers will be forthcoming, but it will take some time as Aurora figures out how to move forward.
According Beeson, the Burlington hospital currently employs 635 people and Lakeland Medical Center employs 528. Many others work at various clinics in the area.
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