St James Hospital and Health Centers Heliport

The heliport's closure was a direct consequence of the permanent closure of the St. James Hospital and Health Centers campus it served. The parent organization, Franciscan Health, made a strategic decision to consolidate services and shutter the aging and underutilized Chicago Heights facility. Operations were moved to a newer, more modern medical center in nearby Olympia Fields. The closure was driven by economic factors and a strategic shift in healthcare service delivery for the region.

The heliport no longer exists. Following the hospital's closure in 2018, the entire campus, including the main hospital building and the associated heliport, was demolished between 2020 and 2021. The land at the coordinates has been completely cleared and sold for redevelopment. The site is being transformed into a commercial and industrial park, with new logistics and warehouse facilities being constructed.

The St James Hospital Heliport was a private-use facility that played a critical role in the emergency medical services (EMS) infrastructure for Chicago's south suburbs. Its primary and sole function was to support the hospital's Level II Trauma Center by facilitating medical evacuation (medevac) flights. Air ambulance services, such as LIFESTAR and the University of Chicago's UCAN helicopter, used the heliport to rapidly transport critically injured or ill patients to and from the hospital. This capability was vital for time-sensitive cases like trauma, stroke, and cardiac emergencies, significantly reducing transport time from accident scenes or other medical facilities.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening the heliport. The fundamental reason for its existence—the St. James Hospital and its trauma center—has been permanently eliminated. The physical infrastructure of the heliport has been destroyed, and the land has been repurposed for an entirely different, non-medical use. Re-establishing a heliport at this location is not feasible or planned.