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CHICAGO (WLS) — Sylvia Williams from West Suburban Medical Center announced that the nursing staff is planning a press conference on Wednesday. Their aim is to discuss the ongoing situation and rally more community support.
On Monday evening, local community and religious figures expressed concern over the hospital’s uncertain future. They warned that if the facility remains closed, residents might face critical, life-threatening situations without necessary medical services.
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“We can’t gamble with people’s lives like this,” emphasized Rev. Robin Hood from Redeemed Outreach Ministry.
Dr. H.A. Barlow, Pastor at Morning Star Baptist Church of Chicago and board member of Insight Hospital, added, “This area cannot turn into a healthcare desert. We cannot allow people to die on the streets due to lack of medical care.”
As the current owners of West Suburban Medical Center work to stabilize its finances, Chicago’s pastors and community leaders are pushing for the hospital to resume operations under new management.
“We see an opportunity and a chance to change the trajectory, because, far as I can tell, and far as what I’ve been getting, that hospital is never going to open again under that current administration,” Hood said.
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.
SEE ALSO | Secret meeting held to oust West Suburban CEO before hospital’s closure, warnings of dire situation
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.
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