Judge orders Westlake Hospital to remain open
Wednesday, May 8, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
A Melrose Park hospital must remain open while a court reviews the decision by a state board to allow it to close, a judge ruled Tuesday.
The village of Melrose Park had filed an emergency motion to stall the planned closing of Westlake Hospital while they appeal the decision by the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board to allow Pipeline Health to close the facility.
Cook County Judge Anna Loftus ruled in favor of the village, saying the hospital, at 1225 Lake St. in Melrose Park, must stay open — for now. The state board had unanimously approved Pipeline’s application last week.
That decision already has been slammed by residents and elected officials, who say the review board should have put off a decision until after a pending lawsuit against Pipeline is resolved.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker was the latest to weigh in; Monday night, he removed his two newly appointed board members, both of whom had voted against deferring the application.
* React…
State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside and state Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Northlake, are applauding a recent court ruling requiring Westlake Hospital to remain open until the judicial system can fully consider the critical services Westlake provides and review the Health Facilities and Services Review Board’s (HFSRB) recent regarding the future of the facility.
“This is a major victory for struggling families in our area whose health care was about to be taken away by an out-of-state corporation,” Welch said. “The Review Board’s vote to close Westlake was wrong. I am glad Governor J.B. Pritzker removed his appointees who supported the closure and I encourage him to appoint two new members who will side with our community and protect local access to care.”
Both Welch and Willis have been fighting to keep the Melrose Park-based facility open since Pipeline Health turned its back on Westlake Hospital after they promised to support it. The HFSRB was tasked with reviewing the closure, but voted to allow Pipeline’s plan to close the hospital. Recently, a Cook County judge issued a ruling mandating that Westlake remain open during the court’s review of the HFSRB’s decision to support Pipeline’s closure of the facility.
“We must continue fighting to keep Westlake open and serving our most vulnerable residents,” Willis said. “The communities I represent should not have their health care hanging by a thread because out-of-state billionaires are pushing for higher profits.”
- Downstate - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 9:43 am:
I wonder if the judge would be willing to be treated there? More importantly, I wonder if he’d be willing to let his children work there?
It’s like requiring a supermarket to stay open. If they can’t provide a quality product, and sufficient staffing then it’s nothing more than going through the motions of claiming “we kept it open.”
- Downstate - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 9:44 am:
Sorry, just realized the judge is female. My apologies. Prior message should have read, “…if she’d be willing…”
- Perrid - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 9:50 am:
“This is a major victory for struggling families in our area whose health care was about to be taken away by an out-of-state corporation”
Is Welch going to cough up the money to keep it running? If a hospital is 70% empty on a regular basis closing is a VERY reasonable outcome.
- City Zen - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 9:54 am:
“The communities I represent should not have their health care hanging by a thread…”
Thankfully, there are two other hospitals on the North Ave corridor less than 3 miles from Westlake to serve those most vulnerable residents. A medical desert, Melrose Park is not.
Elect
- JS Mill - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 10:03 am:
=less than 3 miles from =
I wouldn’t make light of the distance, in that densely populated area 3 miles can take a long time for someone in need of emergency care.
Still, how do you order a business, even a hospital, to remain open? That would seemingly place the courts (county or state) in a position to be financially responsible.
I am not arguing the impact on healthcare, or wether the Pipeline’s actions are appropriate but it is a private company.
Does not seem like a good precedent.
- A guy - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 10:23 am:
==“The communities I represent should not have their health care hanging by a thread…”==
At that hospital, they sure do.
- Trapped in the 'burbs - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 10:31 am:
Health care and higher education need to be priorities in this country. Too many other nations have found a way to make both accessible to their citizens. I have been blessed to have been covered by excellent health insurance my entire life. That was an accident of a fortunate birth. My health and my quality of life have been greatly enhanced because of great medical care. This should be a goal shared by all of our legislators.
- Jocko - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 10:41 am:
What’s the reasoning behind the motion?. Is Judge Loftus arguing that Pipeline Health violated the terms of their agreement and/or HFSRB made an ill-informed/unformed decision?
- NoGifts - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 10:47 am:
IMO I think they can order a hospital to stay open because hospitals benefit from the statewide Health Facilities Services & Review Board that prevents other competing hospitals or health services from opening.
I’ve never understood how the HFSRB can order a hospital to stay open, or prevent a health facility from opening, but can’t order a hospital to be established in a place where it is needed. Do we think they’re providing good health care planning in rural areas?
- Norb McAndrew - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 11:04 am:
I think this has just as much to do with Pipeline’s disregard for the law and the review board’s willingness to roll over even when state statute said the application should be deferred. There is a state process for closing/buying a hospital. Pipeline didn’t follow the law. Also, many services like mental health and charity care are not offered at those other nearby hospitals. Westlake has 60 mental health beds. Don’t forget that this area is also crisscrossed with at grade railroad tracks. Pipeline made their bed. Lastly, comparing a hospital to a grocery store is apples to oranges.
- Amalia - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 11:49 am:
Hospitals are changing. They no longer serve the way they did even just several years ago. Major operations no longer require long in hospital stays due to surgical progression (robotic and more). Urgent care facilities can, and should, take things that are not surgical emergencies or major disease issues. This all means fewer in stay patients and fewer in and out patients. what is needed is to ensure good care and a proper network for trauma all balanced geographically, hence why it is great that the U. of C. finally reopened after a 30 year absence. Not every facility is good enough or in enough demand. See Provident hospital for changes.
- Downstate - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 2:03 pm:
Amalia’s comments at 11:49 are spot on. The healthcare landscape is changing rapidly. Even hip and knee replacement surgeries are done on an out-patient basis. The financial dynamics for a traditional hospital are rapidly deteriorating. Their lunch is being eaten by surgery centers, minute clinics and the rapid advance of technology negating the need for overnight hospital stays. Mandating hospitals to stay open doesn’t change any of those facts.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 5:41 pm:
Norb McAndrew is spot on. If Westlake is such a money pit why did Pipeline buy it in the first place? Who buys a property to close it?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 5:44 pm:
===Who buys a property to close it?===
Bruce Rauner?
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Wednesday, May 8, 19 @ 5:51 pm:
Lol, where Barry Saacks? Pipeline needs a hero.