Illinois’ Cook County has received approval to transform Oak Forest Hospital into an outpatient clinic with a 24-hour urgent care center, according to a Chicago Tribune report.
The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board voted 7 to 1 in favor of the plan to turn Oak Forest into an outpatient clinic with primary care physicians, specialists and diagnostic testing.
The decision follows a nearly 5-month struggle between the state health board and Cook County. The board first rejected the county’s proposal to close the hospital in March. In May, it rejected the plan to turn the struggling south suburban hospital into an outpatient clinic by one vote.
The county had been set to close the hospital June 1. Since then, it has cost the county $2 million a month in unplanned expenses to keep the hospital running, according to the news report.
Read the Chicago Tribune report on Oak Forest Hospital.
Related Articles on Oak Forest Hospital:
Cook County Health System Moves Forward With Plans to Close Oak Forest Hospital
Illinois Review Board Rejects County’s Proposal to Shut Down Oak Forest Hospital
Illinois Regulators to Vote on Oak Forest Hospital’s Fate
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