Mishawaka, Ind.-based Franciscan Health closed its hospital in Chicago Heights, Ill., on Sept. 7 as part of a restructuring plan that involved consolidating services at Franciscan's hospital in Olympia Fields, Ill.
Here are four things to know:
1. Closing the Chicago Heights hospital was part of a restructuring plan state regulators approved in 2016. Under the plan, Franciscan also made a multimillion-dollar investment in its hospital in Olympia Fields.
2. Franciscan Health originally planned to end services at Franciscan Chicago Heights at the end of July, but the shutdown date was pushed back twice as the system awaited final occupancy approval for its inpatient facility in Olympia Fields.
3. Franciscan boosted the number of medical/surgical beds and intensive care unit beds at the Olympia Fields hospital, expanded the facility's emergency room, and added physical rehabilitation and obstetrics services. Franciscan also opened a 24/7 urgent care center adjacent to the Chicago Heights hospital.
4. "We have recently invested more than $200 million in facilities, development, outreach and staffing to not only ensure ongoing services, but to improve access and care in the Southland," Franciscan said in a Sept. 7 Facebook post.
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