After the state Health Facilities and Services Review Board denied Illinois' Cook County from transforming its Oak Forest (Ill.) Hospital into an outpatient clinic, officials are now trying to make the hospital exempt from the board's further review, according to a Chicago Tribune report.
Illinois' Cook County officials are trying to exempt Oak Forest Hospital from review by the state Health Facilities and Services Review Board, according to the report.
One vote from the 9-member regulatory board denied the county's plan to transform the hospital into an outpatient clinic earlier this month. Now, in an attempt to skirt the ruling, county officials are backing a measure that would exclude public hospitals and clinics operated by a county with more than 3 million people from the jurisdiction of the board.
County officials had hoped to close Oak Forest on June 1, and began reducing operations and giving notice to staff. After the board's denial, which stunned county officials, the hospital suspended surgeries due to the retirement of its single anesthesiologist.
The proposed legislation is sponsored by House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago. Cook is the only county in the state where it would apply.
Read the Chicago Tribune report on Oak Forest Hospital.
Related Articles on Oak Forest Hospital:
Illinois' Oak Forest Hospital Suspends Surgeries
Illinois Won't Allow Closure of Struggling Oak Forest Hospital But Approves Shut Down of East St. Louis Facility
Report May Hinder Closure of Suburban Chicago Public Hospital
Illinois' Cook County officials are trying to exempt Oak Forest Hospital from review by the state Health Facilities and Services Review Board, according to the report.
One vote from the 9-member regulatory board denied the county's plan to transform the hospital into an outpatient clinic earlier this month. Now, in an attempt to skirt the ruling, county officials are backing a measure that would exclude public hospitals and clinics operated by a county with more than 3 million people from the jurisdiction of the board.
County officials had hoped to close Oak Forest on June 1, and began reducing operations and giving notice to staff. After the board's denial, which stunned county officials, the hospital suspended surgeries due to the retirement of its single anesthesiologist.
The proposed legislation is sponsored by House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago. Cook is the only county in the state where it would apply.
Read the Chicago Tribune report on Oak Forest Hospital.
Related Articles on Oak Forest Hospital:
Illinois' Oak Forest Hospital Suspends Surgeries
Illinois Won't Allow Closure of Struggling Oak Forest Hospital But Approves Shut Down of East St. Louis Facility
Report May Hinder Closure of Suburban Chicago Public Hospital