Organizers who support re-opening West Suburban Medical Center will attend an upcoming Democratic Party of Oak Park (DPOP) meeting and request local party leaders to invite the hospital’s CEO to present his plans to re-open the hospital.
West Suburban closed in March following an issue with the hospital’s billing system. Following the closure, local organizers met with the hope of creating their own plan to reopen the hospital. Since then, organizers have been meeting in smaller working groups.
At an April press conference, hospital CEO Manoj Prasad told the community that the hospital could open as early as July, with money being the biggest obstacle, and has referenced this goal in other statements to the community.
Last week, following a lawsuit against Prasad filed by Ramco, the hospital’s landlord and a co-owner of the hospital, Cook County Judge Patrick Stanton announced there was not enough evidence to remove Prasad from his position. The judge said he believed there was a plan to reopen the hospital, although it was still in progress.
But some community organizers are skeptical and want to hear Prasad’s plan to re-open the hospital. Members of the working group, which focuses on local policy and advocacy, met at the main branch of the Oak Park Public Library and agreed to attend the June 13 DPOP meeting to request to see Prasad’s plan.
Organizer Jenna Leving Jacobson, an Oak Park village trustee and liaison to the board of health, attended the June 3 meeting. She said there was a lack of clarity about the hospital’s future. The organizers said they hope this action will keep community members aware of the closure and provide some clarity on the hospital’s future.