OAK PARK, Ill. (WLS) — A court hearing set for Thursday may offer new insight into what comes next for West Suburban Medical Center, as hospital workers, residents and elected officials push for a plan that could bring the facility back into service.
The uncertainty deepened Wednesday when employees were notified that they are expected to face permanent layoffs. Still, those advocating for the hospital say they have not given up hope that another option can be worked out.
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State Rep. La Shawn Ford is calling on the court to move the matter into receivership, arguing that such a step could make it easier to transfer West Suburban to a nonprofit operator and ultimately reopen the hospital.
“I think what’s happening now is that we see that these owners are not going to come to a resolution that’s going to be good for the community and making sure that we have a hospital that’s community led,” Ford said.
West Suburban Medical Center has remained shut down since March. In the months since, West Suburban CEO Manoj Prasad and property owner Rathnaker “Reddy” Patlola have taken legal action against each other.
As settlement talks continue within the court process, Ford said Insight, which currently owns the former Mercy Hospital, could play a role in efforts to preserve West Suburban. He said Insight has already been assisting patients affected by the hospital’s closure.
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“I think Insight has expressed interest. Will the community accept Insight? Are there other not-for-profit entities out there that might want to come and work with the community in order to open the hospital up with the needs of the community top of mind,” Ford said.
Ford emphasized that neighborhoods around Oak Park and Chicago’s West Side continue to need nearby hospital access, pointing to the strain the closure has placed on local health care services.
“Remember, now there’s no place for women to have babies in the Austin area and on the west side of Chicago, because west suburban is closed,” Ford said.
The closure has also left hundreds of former employees without jobs and affordable health insurance. Sylvia Williams, West Suburban’s former head of nursing, said the loss extends beyond the workforce.
“We’re saddened for the employees that don’t have jobs, but we are more saddened for the patients that there is no access of getting care,” Williams said.
A settlement conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday at the Daley Center. While there is no guarantee the meeting will produce a resolution, Ford said he remains hopeful about the hospital’s future.
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