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Heads up Illinois regulators are set to vote *Tuesday* on whether to allow Mercy Hospital on Chicago's Near South Side to close. There are so many layers to this: https://tinyurl.com/yyhq3fqx @WBEZ @WBEZpolitics
Mercy is in Bronzeville. It's the first chartered hospital in Chicago. The majority of patients are Black & Mercy treats many Cantonese-speaking patients from nearby neighborhoods, including Chinatown. During #COVID19, Black & Latino residents have gotten sick or died the most.
For years Mercy has staffed barely half of all the beds in the hospital. There are fewer people who need to be hospitalized. This is a national trend.
Hospitals like Mercy that treat mostly low-income & elderly patients can't keep up financially. https://tinyurl.com/yyr35bz7
Hospitals like Mercy that treat mostly low-income & elderly patients can't keep up financially. https://tinyurl.com/yyr35bz7
Mercy tried to merge with 3 other struggling South Side hospitals. The goal: to focus on disparities & prevent people from getting sick & winding up in the hospital.
The deal fell apart when Illinois lawmakers, wanting more details, would not help foot the billion-dollar bill.
The deal fell apart when Illinois lawmakers, wanting more details, would not help foot the billion-dollar bill.
But, there is obviously a cost to closing Mercy -- less access for the most vulnerable patients.
Mercy has one of the busiest ERs in Chicago.
Per a new state report: 'The loss of emergency care services will result in health risk to the population that Mercy Hospital serves.'
Mercy has one of the busiest ERs in Chicago.
Per a new state report: 'The loss of emergency care services will result in health risk to the population that Mercy Hospital serves.'
The board that will decide Mercy's fate is appointed by @GovPritzker. There are nine members, but just six spots filled right now. And the board needs five votes to say yes or no.
A staffer at the board told me said she couldn’t recall a time when the board rejected a hospital’s request to close.
Still, there's a huge amount of activism against this closure. Many public health advocates say Chicago's South Side is already a health care desert, especially for pregnant women. https://tinyurl.com/y4ho5pjz
On Friday afternoon, dozens of physicians, community organizers & faith leaders briefly shut down Randolph Street near the Thompson Center. They rallied, chanted, and prayed.
Per Dr. Anudeep Dasaraju, who treats patients in Mercy's ER:
“How are we supposed to provide patient care when you cannot support us on the other end. We are fighting two battles here, and we feel like we are losing. Despite what happens on the 15th, we will continue to fight.”
“How are we supposed to provide patient care when you cannot support us on the other end. We are fighting two battles here, and we feel like we are losing. Despite what happens on the 15th, we will continue to fight.”
