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Community Corner

State Board Rejects County Plan to Close Oak Forest Hospital

The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board votes to keep Oak Forest Hospital open.

The Illinois Facilities and Services Review Board voted to keep Oak Forest Hospital open, according to Associated Press reports in the SouthtownStar.

The board's decision delays the county's plan to close the facility by June 1, but allows for the county to submit additional details for the plan to convert the hospital into an outpatient only facility.

Chants from 80 to 100 chanting protesters temporarily shut down the meeting of the state board, according to the story.

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At a January hearing about the hospital's future, concerned family members of patients stated Many conjectured that if the hospital eliminates its inpatient services, they will be forced to travel to the nearest hospital, which could be Stroger Hospital nearly 25 miles away.

See the Associated Press story in the SouthtownStar for more.

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