Cook County Board President Calls Together Community Leaders to Talk Trasnformation of Oak Forest Hospital

On the morning of Thursday, May 26, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle  and Cook County Health and Hospital System Chief Executive Officer Dr. Terry Mason called together faith and community leaders from Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.

The meeting will address the future of the Cook County Health and Hospital System and the importance of moving forward with plans to transform Oak Forest into a regional outpatient center, according to a press release from Preckwinkle's office.

The meeting comes two days after 60 activists, religious leaders, nurses and patients gathered Tuesday at the entrance of Oak Forest Hospital to protest its closing.

At the gathering, State Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago) referred to plans to close Oak Forest Hospital as “criminal." Cook County of collecting taxes under “false pretenses” from Southland residents, according to a SouthtownStar article from Wednesday, May 25.

Cook County seeks to close the hospital's emergency room and inpatient treatment unit as soon as Wednesday, June 1. A state board initially nixed the idea; legislation currently being considered by lawmakers would lift the requirement for the board's approval.

Stay tuned to Patch for more.