Sylvia Williams from West Suburban Medical Center announced that the nursing staff is organizing a press conference for Wednesday. The aim is to shed more light on the ongoing situation and to rally additional support from the community.
During a Monday evening gathering, community and religious leaders expressed concerns about the potential closure of the hospital. They warned that if the promised reopening does not occur, residents could face dire, life-threatening situations.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
“It’s unacceptable to gamble with people’s lives in this manner,” stated Rev. Robin Hood of Redeemed Outreach Ministry.
Dr. H.A. Barlow, Pastor at Morning Star Baptist Church of Chicago and board member of Insight Hospital, added, “Turning this area into a health care desert is not an option. We cannot allow people to be left without necessary care.”
Amid the financial challenges facing West Suburban Medical Center, Chicago’s religious and community leaders are taking action. Their goal is to ensure the hospital’s reopening, but under new management.
Rev. Hood commented, “We see a significant opportunity to shift the current trajectory. Based on the information I have, it’s clear that the hospital won’t reopen under the existing administration.”
Resilience Health’s CEO spoke with ABC7 last week, saying he is working to fix a billing system problem to reopen the hospital in July.
But people at Monday night’s West Side town hall meeting, including West Suburban hospital staff, were not convinced.
“As health care workers, we don’t have faith he’s doing right with the funds that’s been appropriated to him,” said West Suburban Hospital Nursing Director Sylvia Williams. “We don’t have faith that he is the leader that will make us grow or excel.”
Louvenia Hood with Mothers Opposed to Violence Everywhere says her organization rallied to keep Mercy Hospital, now Insight, open.
“It will be devastating. There’ll be more and more and more deaths going on, waiting in the waiting rooms, and not enough doctors and nurses and stuff to take care of those individuals,” she said.
Insight’s CEO was present at Monday night’s meeting, surrounded by calls for them to step in, fearing the worst if West Suburban were to shut its doors for good.
“This is traumatic, and it’s devastating, and it just should not be. It shouldn’t be,” Barlow said.
Monday night’s group of about 30 individuals hope the meeting is the first of many to mobilize this community.
ABC7 reached out to Resilience Health and did not immediately hear back.
Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
