State Approves Changes to Oak Forest Hospital

After months of , will be converted into a 24-hour regional urgent care facility.

The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board Tuesday voted 7 to 1 in favor of the plan to turn the south suburban hospital into an outpatient clinic with primary care doctors, specialists and diagnostic testing, according to a Chicago Tribune report.

"The transformation of the Oak Forest campus will allow for better and more responsible use of resources to dramatically improve health access for medically underserved residents in the Southland," Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said. "I will continue to utilize my Southland Health Advisory Council to provide input to my office and to the health care system on the delivery of health care throughout the south suburbs."

Oak Forest Hospital, which currently costs $100 million a year to operate, averages 50 to 60 patients a day, former Health System CEO William Foley said at a January meeting. The original, proposed changes could reportedly save the county $25 million. Those plans included goals to eliminate emergency and inpatient services. The hospital would focus only on primary care and outpatient services.

The county health board recently revised its plans, to include the 24-hour urgent care plans. The county had originally planned to close the facility June 1, but the board rejected its plan.

Dr. Ramanathan Raju, the new CEO of the Cook County Health and Hospital System, also issued a statement.

"I applaud the board's decision in approving the transformation of the Oak Forest campus. This is an important milestone for the Cook County Health and Hospital System and a key step forward in implementing the strategic plan," Raju said in the statement.

"Public health care is in a critical period," he continued. "As incoming chief executive officer of the Cook County Health and Hospital System, I look forward to working with President Preckwinkle and the System Board to continue to strengthen our system and ensure that we can continue to provide quality, accessible health care for those who need it for many years to come.”