The Cook County health system's plan to transform Oak Forest Hospital into a regional outpatient clinic has again been rebuffed by the staff of the state's hospital planning board, but county officials plan to press ahead with an August 16 vote by the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board on the latest version of their proposal.
The board's professional staff members have now recommended against the county plan three times this year, citing concerns that discontinuing hospital services would have an "adverse impact" on the south suburbs.
In May, the state hospital board followed its staff recommendation and denied the county's plan to turn the hospital into an outpatient clinic with primary care doctors, specialists and diagnostic testing.
The county is offering to operate a 24-hour urgent care center. The addition was a concession to patient advocates and unions that have opposed the county's plan, saying it will hurt health care for those who need it most.
The county hospital system wants to close the hospital as part of its plan to overhaul services countywide. The county had been set to close the hospital June 1. For the complete article and further information on the topic click here.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment