By Dave Andrusko
A Rockford, Illinois abortion clinic has had its operating license suspended indefinitely, the Rockford Register Star reported Friday. The Department of Public Health found conditions at the Northern Illinois Women’s Center abortion clinic “that are directly threatening to the public interest, health, safety and welfare requiring immediate, emergency action,” according to a three-page notice, dated September 29.
The Health Department first conducted an inspection over a three-day period in June, according to reporter Corina Curry. Melaney Arnold, spokeswoman for the Health Department, told the newspaper that the abortion clinic was given a plan of correction for its violations of the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Licensing Requirements Code and Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, and informed that its progress would be monitored.
True to its word, the state returned to the Northern Illinois Women’s Center on September 15. There was a list of violations, according to the newspaper’s summary of the suspension notice that included
· Neither of the abortionists on staff had maintained surgical practice privileges with an Illinois-licensed hospital, presumably in case there was a medical emergency
· The absence of a registered nurse to direct and supervise the nursing personnel and the nursing care of patients.
· “The facility did not ensure the presence of a registered nurse in the operating room during all invasive and operative procedures.”
Arnold emailed the Rockford Register Star last week that abortion clinics that “must submit an acceptable plan of correction for all citations,” according to the newspaper.
“Almost all facilities comply with their plans of correction,” Arnold wrote. “If there are repeated deficiencies, especially for the same issue, the facility could face license suspension or revocation.
The abortion clinic has 20 days to file a written response to the state’s allegations.
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