Chicago-based University of Illinois Hospital submitted plans to the state board to shutter its physical rehabilitation unit and convert the space into more private medical-surgical beds, according to The Chicago Tribune.
According to the application, which was filed with the Illinois Facilities and Services Review Board, the physical rehabilitation unit has seen a stark decline in demand over the past few years. As a result, the hospital is looking to transition the 18 physical rehab beds to medical-surgical beds to meet the growing demand for private rooms.
The conversion would not change the number of medical-surgical beds, but it will increase the percentage of private rooms in the hospital to 52 percent from 41 percent.
The hospital will need approval from the state board before it can close the rehabilitation and transition the space. If the plan is approved, the hospital would begin the conversion within 30 days of receiving approval. The plan is expected to cost nothing.